UK ambient air quality networks

Novel analysis of air quality data

NPL operates three UK ambient air quality networks for the Environment Agency, which manages their delivery for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra): the Heavy Metals Network, the Particle Numbers and Concentrations Network and the Black Carbon Network.

Find out more about our air quality networks 

In addition to the routine operation of the networks, NPL also inputs into relevant CEN standardisation committees and delivers research to maximise the value of the data generated by the network. Examples of published research using network data includes:

• Policy implications of long-term changes in mass absorption cross-section derived from equivalent black carbon and elemental carbon measurements in London and south-east England
• Assessing trends in nickel concentrations in South Wales over the last five decades (subscription required - content behind paywall)
• Determination of antimony and barium in UK air quality samples as indicators of non-exhaust traffic emissions (subscription required- content behind paywall)

• Concentration trends of metals in ambient air in the UK: a review (subscription required - content behind paywall)

• A robust regression analysis method to determine the significance of trends in concentrations of heavy metals in UK ambient air and improve network design and emission inventories (subscription required - content behind paywall)

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