
Media and Communications
St Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
News Release
Telephone: 0131-244 1111
17 July 2007
TACKLING AIR POLLUTION - RUSSELL
Proposals to tackle air pollution to help improve quality of life and reduce
environmental damage in Scotland are outlined in the revised Air Quality
Strategy published today.
Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, said:
“Air quality has improved over the past decade thanks to reduced
emissions and improved technology and we are currently meeting targets
for all air pollutants across the vast majority of Scotland.
“A great deal of progress has been made in reducing air pollution, but we
still need to do more. Some urban areas still exceed air quality objectives
and EU limit values. In these areas air pollution continues to pose a
threat to public health and the environment.
“The revised Air Quality Strategy, published today, underlines our
determination to make further progress in tackling air pollution, in order
to improve our quality of life.”
The Air Quality Strategy, which covers the whole of the UK, is one of
the most comprehensive environmental studies undertaken. It takes a
more wide ranging approach to addressing pollutants and sets a longer

SE Approved
Version 1.1
term agenda to look at how air pollution impacts on both health and the
environment.
The proposals outlined could potentially deliver large reductions in air
pollution, generating significant health and environmental benefits.
The Air Quality Strategy is available online at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications
Notes to Editors
1. Domestic air quality objectives have been set for nine of the major air
pollutants: benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen
dioxide, ozone, particulates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and
sulphur dioxide. European Directive limit and/or target values are also in
place for these pollutants.
2. All objectives and limit and/or target values are being met across the
vast majority of Scotland. Domestic objectives for nitrogen dioxide and
particles which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and
the EU Limit Value for nitrogen dioxide, are currently not being achieved
in a few urban hotspots. The local authorities affected have all declared
Air Quality Management Areas and are implementing action plans to
tackle the issues identified.
3. The revised Air Quality Strategy considers options which modelling
suggests could reduce average exposure to air pollutants for everyone.
The options include:
- early uptake of new tighter European vehicle emissions standards
- increased uptake of low emission vehicles
- reducing emissions from ships.
The strategy retains the objectives for the main pollutants of concern, and
introduces a new policy framework for tackling fine particles (PM2.5)
which have no safe health threshold. It also sets an agenda for the longer
term to improve our understanding of air pollution and look at what
further reductions might be feasible.
4. For information on current or historic levels of air pollution go to:
www.scottishairquality.co.uk or call the freephone helpline 0800 556677.
Media Contact: Eleanor Stratford 0131 244 2018
Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk

SE Approved
Version 1.1