WILTSHIRE LOCAL AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SUB-GROUP
in collaboration with the Air Quality Management Resource Centre, UWE, Bristol.

WEST WILTSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT - REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT

	Summary
	Stage 1 Review & Assessment Document  CONTENTS
	Stage 2 Review & Assessment information
	Stage 3 Review & Assessment information

 SUMMARY

Since the introduction of Air Quality Regulations 1997 which implement Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 local authorities have been required to review and assess the air quality of their districts for 7 pollutants namely:-

• Carbon monoxide
• Benzene
• 1,3-butadiene
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Lead
• Particles (PM10)
• Sulphur dioxide

Environmental Services of West Wiltshire District Council has completed its first stage review and assessment of air quality for its district.

This report highlights the specific requirements of the air quality regulations 1997 including the objectives to be met for each of the seven pollutants.

Each pollutant is considered in separate chapters.   The potential sources of each pollutant have been considered and background levels have been assessed using national information available from the Internet.

The first stage review and assessment is purely a desk study using already existing information.  The second and third stage review and assessments (where required) involve more detailed monitoring and modelling techniques to assess in detail whether any of the air quality objectives are or are likely to be exceeded.

The report highlights that there is a need for this authority to proceed to a second and possibly third stage review and assessment due to the fact that there are potentially significant releases of all the above pollutants except Benzene and Lead which are likely to breach the air quality standards and objectives either now or by 2005.

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  CONTENTS

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1    The Purpose of a First Stage Review & Assessment
1.2    What are the Air Quality Objectives?
1.3    The Consultation Process
1.4    First Stage Review & Assessment of Air Quality in West Wiltshire

Chapter 2: CARBON MONOXIDE

2.1    Health Effects from exposure to Carbon monoxide
2.2    The National Perspective
2.3    The Air Quality Standards and Objectives

Chapter 3: FIRST STAGE REVIEW & ASSESSMENT OF CARBON MONOXIDE

3.1     Information on Current and 2005 Forecast Annual Average Daily Traffic Flows and Peak Hour Mean Traffic Speeds for the Major Road Network in the Authority’s area
3.2     Information on Current Urban Background Concentrations due to dispersed Road Transport Sources derived from locally sited Automatic Monitoring or from National Maps
3.3     Part A Authorised Processes present within the West Wiltshire Area
3.4     Part B Processes in the Authority’s Area
3.5     Planned Developments of Part A/Part B Processes in the locality, including those which will increase traffic flow
3.6     Details of Significant Sources of Carbon monoxide in Neighbouring Areas which could impact significantly within the  Authority’s Area

3.6.1 Part A Processes
3.6.2 Part B Processes

3.7     Assessment

  Chapter 4: BENZENE

4.1    Health Effects from Exposure to Benzene
4.2    The National Perspective
4.3    The Air Quality Standard and Objective

  Chapter 5: FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF BENZENE

5.1    Details of Part A Authorised Processes present within the Authority’s Area
5.2    Details of Part B Processes present in the Authority’s Area
5.3    Planned Development of the above mentioned types in the locality
5.4    Details of any Significant Sources of Benzene in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the Authority’s area

5.4.1   Part A Processes
5.4.2   Part B Processes

5.5    Assessments

  Chapter 6: 1,3-BUTADIENE

6.1    Health Effects from Exposure to 1,3-butadiene
6.2    The National Perspective
6.3    The Air Quality Standards & Objectives

  Chapter 7: FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF 1,3-BUTADIENE

7.1    Details of Part A Authorised Processes present within the Authority’s Area
7.2    Details of Part B Processes present with the Authority’s Area
7.3    Planned Developments of the above types in the locality
7.4    Details of any significant sources of 1,3-butadiene in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the Authority’s Area

7.4.1   Part A Processes
7.4.2   Part B Processes

7.5    Assessment

Chapter 8: LEAD

8.1    Health Effects from Exposure to Lead
8.2    The National Perspective
8.3    The Air Quality Standards & Objectives

Chapter 9: FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT FOR LEAD

9.1    Information on Current Urban Background Concentration due to dispersed Road Transport
Sources
9.2    Details of Part A Processes present within the Authority’s Area
9.3    Details of Part B Processes in the Authority’s Area
9.4    Planned Developments of the above types in the locality
9.5    Details of Large Part A Authorised Processes in neighbouring areas which could impact within the Authority’s Area
9.6    Assessments

Chapter 10: NITROGEN DIOXIDE

10.1   Health Effects from Exposure to Nitrogen dioxide
10.2   The National Perspective
10.3   The Air Quality Standard & Objective

Chapter 11: FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE

11.1    Information on Current and 2005 Forecast Annual Average Daily Traffic Flows for any existing or proposed roads in the Authority’s Area with existing or predicted traffic flows which at the end of 2005 could generate significant quantities of Nitrogen dioxide
11.2    Information on Current Urban Background Concentrations due to dispersed Road Transport Sources
11.3    Details of Part A Authorised Processes present within the Authority’s Area
11.4    Details of Part B Processes present within the Authority’s Area
11.5    Planned Developments of the above mentioned types in the locality including those which will increase traffic flow
11.6    Details of any significant sources of Nitrogen dioxide in neighbouring areas which can impact significantly on the Authority’s Area

11.6.1 Part A Processes
11.6.2 Part B Processes

11.7   Details of any Surveys or Investigations undertaken to obtain information to compile the report
11.8   Assessment

Chapter 12: PARTICULATES (PM10)

12.1    Health Effects from Exposure to PM10
12.2    The National Perspective
12.3    The Air Quality Standard & Objective

Chapter 13: FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF PM10

13.1    Information on Current and 2005 Forecast Annual Average Daily Traffic Flows for Existing or proposed roads in the Authority’s area with existing or predicted Traffic Flows which at the end of 2005 could generate significant quantities of PM10
13.2    Information on approximate Emission Densities  from Road Transport and other low level dispersed sources (eg, Domestic Coal Burning) of PM10
13.3    Information on Current Urban Background Concentrations
13.4    Information on Current Annual Average Secondary Particulate Background Concentrations
from locally sited Sulphate Measurements or from National Maps
13.5    Details of Part A Authorised Processes present within the Local Authority’s Area
13.6    Details of Part B Processes present within the Local Authority’s Area
13.7    Planned Developments of the above types in the locality including those which will increase traffic flow
13.8    Details of any significant sources of PM10 in neighbouring areas which could impact
significantly within the Authority’s area

13.8.1   Part A Processes
13.8.2   Part B Processes

13.9    Assessment

Chapter 14: SULPHUR DIOXIDE

14.1    Health Effects from exposure to Sulphur dioxide
14.2    The National Perspective
14.3    The Air Quality Standards & Objectives

Chapter 15: REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE

15.1    Details of Part A Authorised Processes present within the Authority’s Area
15.2    Information on approximate Emission Densities  from Domestic Combustion and other
Low-Level dispersed sources of Sulphur dioxide
15.3   Information on Current Urban Background Concentration
15.4   Details of Part B Processes present in the Authority’s Area
15.5   Information on the Existence of Combustion Systems with Thermal Power Rating greater than 5 MW using fuels containing significant quantities of Sulphur
15.6   Planned Developments of the above mentioned types in the locality including those which will increase traffic flow
15.7   Details of Significant Sources of Sulphur dioxide in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the Authority’s area
15.8   Assessment

Chapter 16: CONCLUSIONS TO THE FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT

 16.1    The requirement for a Second Stage Review & Assessment

Chapter 17: GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

 STAGE 1 REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT

  Chapter 1- INTRODUCTION

West Wiltshire has an administrative area of about 518 square kilometers and has a population of 111305 (as of 1996).

The district is centered around the five towns of Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster.

The district borders the districts of Kennet, North Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Mendip and Salisbury.

The district is predominantly rural and agricultural with an urban/industrial mix.

It is a district of great character and distinction with a wide variety of diverse landscapes of natural beauty, and many picturesque historic towns and villages.

There are two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) within the district; the Cotswolds AONB and the Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire down AONB.

Trowbridge is the principal town of the district and the county town of Wiltshire.  It has a population of 27,000.

Warminster lies in the south of the district and has a population of approximately 17,000.

Melksham lies in the north of the district and has a population of approximately 19,000.

Westbury lies to the south of Trowbridge and has a population of about 10,000.

Bradford on Avon has a population of about 9,000.

The main communication links through the district are the A36 trunk road from Southampton to Bath; the A350 from the M4 to Poole; and the A361 which provides the main east/west link through the district.

In January 1998 the provisions of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 came into force.  This requires local authorities to review and assess the air quality within their districts through local air quality management which forms part of the Government’s National Air Quality Strategy.

The Air Quality Regulations 1997 prescribe the air quality objectives to be achieved by the year 2005.

As part of the process of reviewing air quality, local authorities have to consider the present air quality and the likely future quality of air to the end of 2005, and then assess whether the Government's air quality objectives are likely to be achieved by the end of 2005.

This document forms the first stage review and assessment of air quality in West Wiltshire.  Each air quality objective has been considered individually in this report and the conclusions are discussed at the end.

1.1 The Purpose of a First Stage Review and Assessment
The purpose of a first stage review and assessment is to initially screen industrial, transport and other sources of pollutants within the West Wiltshire District and also consider any potentially significant sources of pollution from other districts that are likely to have an impact on the air quality within the Council's area.

To do this we have compiled and collated information on existing and proposed significant pollution source both within the district and in the surrounding area and then considered and individuals likely exposure to the seven pollutants.  Guidance on this process has been provided in a Department of Transport and the Region's document "Review & Assessment: Pollutant Specific Guidance".

It should be noted that a worst case scenario has been assumed in order to identify potential problems.  This report by no means implies that there are air quality problems in the district.  It merely reports the findings of a desktop study intended to highlight potentially significant pollution releases which will be assessed further using monitoring and modelling techniques. This initial review and assessment will then assist us in determining whether we need to proceed with a second stage review and assessment.  A second stage review and assessment will only be required if the first stage review and assessment indicates that there may be a risk of excedence for any of the prescribed air quality objectives.

1.2 What are the Air Quality Objectives
The air quality objectives to be achieved by 2005 have been prescribed by the Government in the Air Quality Regulations 1997
and are as follows:-
 

1.3 The Consultation Process
As part of the first stage review and assessment of air quality in West Wiltshire the District Council has consulted the following groups and organisations:-

The views of these Consultees have been considered during the production of this report.

1.4 First Stage Review and Assessment of Air Quality in West Wiltshire
For the purposes of this review and assessment a number of potentially polluting processes have been assessed. In West Wiltshire there are two existing Part A processes which are regulated by the Environment Agency under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The two Part A processes are:-

Blue Circle Cement, Westbury
which is a cement and lime process

Premiere Environmental Ltd, Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading Estate
which is an oil and solvent recovery process

There are also a number of part B processes which are regulated by West Wiltshire District Council under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. These processes are as follows:-

Oval Motors, Warminster Road, Westbury
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST 871 509

Longleat Forestry, Picket Post
- Timber Process
Grid Ref:  ST 841 440

Keith Charles Lye LCG, Lancaster Road, Bowerhill
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST908 523

Geo Brown, Silver Street, Steeple Ashton
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST909 566

Connor Eng. Services, Washington Road, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST853 528

Autocade Motor Services, Engineer Road, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST854 530

Airsprung Beds, Canal Road
- Timber Process
Grid Ref:  ST856 593
 
Tarmac Topmix Ltd, Trowbridge Batching Plant, Canal Road, Trowbridge
- Storage and use of bulk cement
Grid Ref:  ST857 592

Celcon Blocks, Quartermaster Road, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Storage and use of bulk cement
Grid Ref:  ST857 528

Bristol Readymix, Victory Road, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Storage and use of bulk cement
Grid Ref:  ST851 529

RMC (Western) Ltd, Railway Goods Yard, Melksham
- Storage and use of bulk cement
Grid Ref:  ST899 645

Boytons Farm, Co Boyton
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST935 401

Saxon Garage, Woolley, Bradford on Avon
- Waste Oil Burner
Grid Ref:  ST831 611

Airsprung Beds, Canal Road
- Wood Coating Process
Grid Ref:  ST856 593

J & T Beaven, The Midlands, Holt
- Hide and Skin Process
Grid Ref:  ST860 619

Webbs Country Foods, Brook Mill, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Animal Feed Compounding
Grid Ref:  ST850 430

Oval Motors, Broadway North, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Respraying of Road Vehicles
Grid Ref:  ST855 531

GRP Massey, The Ham, Westbury
- Respraying of Road Vehicles
Grid Ref:  ST859 521

West Midland Farmers, Bradford Road, Melksham
- Animal Feed Compounding
Grid Ref:  ST904 640

Gro Well Feeds Ltd, Hercules Way, Bowerhill
- Animal Feed Compounding
Grid Ref:  ST911 616

Avothane, Bath Road, Melksham
- Di-isocyanate Process
Grid Ref:  ST902 643

Hose, Trowbridge, AAC, Avon Way, Trowbridge
- Adhesive Coating Process
Grid Ref:  ST859 593

Avon Rubber plc, Bath Road, Melksham
- Rubber Process
Grid Ref:  ST902 643

ABRO, Imber Avenue, Warminster
- Respraying of Road Vehicles
Grid Ref:  ST885 451

Cooper Avon Tyres, Bath Road, Melksham
- Rubber Process
 Grid Ref:  ST902 643
 
 Mike Aven Commercials, Victory Road, West Wilts Trading Estate
 - Waste Oil Burner
 Grid Ref:  ST852 530
 
 Novacast Ltd, Station Approach, Melksham
 - Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Process
 Grid Ref:  ST900 646
 
 Melksham Car Care Centre, Station Approach, Melksham
 - Waste Oil Burner
 Grid Ref:  ST900 645
 
 West Wiltshire Crematorium, Devizes Road, Semington
 - Crematorium
 Grid Ref:  ST899 601
 
 Semington Vehicle Repairs, High Street, Semington
 - Waste Oil Burner
 Grid Ref:  ST898 606
 
 New Barn Farm, Whaddon Lane, Hilperton, Trowbridge
 - Waste Oil Burner
 Grid Ref:  ST875 595
 
 Pinetum, 32a, b, c Deverill Road Trading Estate, Sutton Veny, Warminster
 - Wood Coating
 Grid Ref:  ST890 417
 
 Beautiful Wood, 6/8 The Old Silk Works, Beech Avenue, Warminster
 - Wood Coating
 Grid Ref:  ST866 446
 
 Sainsbury plc, Bath Road, Melksham
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST903 640
 
 Nortree Motors Ltd, Beanacre Road, Melksham
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST901 652
 
 Oval of Bradford on Avon, 61 Trowbridge Road, Bradford on Avon
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST828 604
 
 Northfield Garage, 36 Victoria Road, Warminster
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST861 449
 
 J C Cleaners, 26-28 Lysander Road, Bowerhill, Melksham
 - Waste Oil Burner
 Grid Ref:  ST909 619
 
 Longbridge Deverill Service Station Longbridge Deverill,
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST869 408
 
 Techprep Limited, Brook Lane Industrial Estate, Brook Lane, Westbury
 - Respraying Road Vehicles
 Grid Ref:  ST558 519
 
 Safeway Petrol Filling Station, Weymouth Street, Warminster
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST872 449
 
 F Sleightholme & Sons Ltd, Frome Road, Trowbridge
 - Waste Oil Burner
 Grid Ref:  ST850 571
 
 Esso Service Station, East Street, Warminster
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST877 448
 
 Granada Service Station, A36 By-pass, Warminster
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST460 465
 
 Texaco Ltd, The Down, Trowbridge
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST590 589
 
 Texaco Ltd, Westbury Road, Yarnbrook
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST867 549
 
 Tesco, County Way, Trowbridge
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST856 575
 
 The Bear Garage, Bath Road, Atworth
 - Petrol Station
 Grid Ref:  ST861 660
 
 BTR Automotive, Aintree Avenue, White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge
- Coating of Metal and Plastic
Grid Ref:  867 558

Oval Motor Company, 22b Broadway North, West Wilts Trading Estate
- Petrol Station
Grid Ref:  ST855 531

In reviewing and assessing the air quality in West Wiltshire, consideration has been made to these processes.

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  Chapter 2 - CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.  The majority of carbon monoxide emissions are caused by road transport, in particular from petrol engines.  The emissions are further increased when the engine is either idling or moving slowly or if it is cold or badly tuned.

2.1 Health Effects from Exposure to Carbon monoxide
The main health effect from outdoor exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide is the reduction in the ability of the blood to carry oxygen which may cause headaches and affect concentration and reflexes.

In pregnant women, high levels of exposure can retard foetal growth.

2.2 The National Perspective
According to the Department of Transport & The Regions, Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards, it has been estimated that in the United Kingdom around 6.7 million tonnes of carbon monoxide are emitted into the atmosphere each year. 87% of that comes from petrol engined vehicles.

It is envisaged that with improved engine design, fuel injection and engine management systems, the introduction of catalytic converters and more stringent emission standards for the MOT tests, the levels of carbon monoxide will be reduced.  However, this trend may be opposed by an increase in traffic.

2.3 The Air Quality Standard and Objective
The Government has set a concentration of 10 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide over a running 8 hour mean as an air quality standard with a specific objective for the standard to be achieved by the year 2005.

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Chapter 3- FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF CO

3.1 Information on current and 2005 forecast annual average daily traffic flows and peak hour mean traffic
speeds for the Major Road Network in the Authorities Area.
ie; road links with a current or projected average daily traffic flow greater than 50,000.

Appendix 1 gives traffic count dates.

From the Travel Report 1996 published by Wiltshire County Council there are no road links within the district satisfying the above criteria.

3.2 Information on current urban background concentrations due to dispersed road transport sources derived from locally sited automatic monitoring or from national maps. There are no automatic carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring sites in West Wiltshire.  Information has, therefore, been obtained from the national maps supplied by AEA Technology as part of the National Air Quality information archive. Appendix 2 shows CO background concentrations for West Wiltshire 1996.

This shows that West Wiltshire had carbon monoxide background concentrations in 1996 of between 0.2ppm - 0.3ppm.

3.3 Details of Part A authorised processes present within the West Wilts area:-

(a) Blue Circle Cement - a cement and lime process.

(b) Premiere Environmental Ltd - an oil and solvent recovery process.

The national guidance in Annex 1 of the Review & Assessment Pollutant - Specific Guidance produced by the DETR, indicates neither of these processes are likely to produce carbon monoxide in significant quantities.

3.4 Details of Part B processes in the Authority’s Area:-
These are listed in section 1.4 of this report. The national guidance in Annex 2 of the Review & Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance indicates that there are no part B processes within the district that are likely to produce significant quantities of CO.

3.5 Planned developments of Part A/Part B processes in the locality, including those which will increase traffic flow. An  Application for Authorisation has been received by the Environment Agency dated 28 August 1998 from Western Solvents Ltd, Brook Lane, Westbury to operate an Oil and Solvent Recovery Process. From Annex 1 Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance this process is unlikely to emit significant
quantities of CO.

3.6 Details of significant sources of CO in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the Authority’s Area. Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Mendip District Council, Salisbury District Council and Bath and North East Somerset have all been consulted on this issue.

3.6.1 Part A Processes
Mendip District Council has the following Part A processes within its district:

(a)    Wessex Incineration, Bunns Lane, West Woodlands, Frome - Animal Carcass Incineration. 

(b)    ICI, Hitchen Lane, Shepton Mallett - Di-isocyanate

(c)    Cuprinol, Adderwell Road, Frome - Coating Manufacture

Of these processes Wessex Incineration is the only process likely to emit significant quantities of CO into the
atmosphere.
This has been determined from Appendix 1 of  the Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance.It is unknown
at this stage whether this emission will significantly impact on the air quality in the West Wiltshire district.

Salisbury District Council has one Part A process on its district, namely:

SEPG (Operations) Ltd, A36 Warminster Road, Quidhampton, Salisbury - an electricity substation with a natural gas turbine connected to an electrical generator producing 43.8 MW electrical input.  Annex 1 of the Review and Assessment: Pollutant-Specific Guidance indicates that this process is unlikely to emit significant quantities of CO.

3.6.2  Part B Processes
All five Local Authorities have a number of Part B process.  Consultation with these authorities have confirmed that none of these processes are likely to emit significant quantities of CO.

3.7 Assessment
From the information obtained there is only one process, namely, Wessex Incineration, Frome, that is likely to emit significant quantities of CO.  This process is approximately 18km from Trowbridge but about 9.5 km to Corsley, the nearest village to Frome within West Wiltshire.   However, at this stage it is unclear whether emissions from this process will have a significant impact on the air quality of West Wiltshire.  It will be necessary for this Authority to carry out a second stage review and assessment of air quality for this pollutant.

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  Chapter 4- BENZENE

Benzene is a chemical which at normal ambient temperatures is a liquid, but it readily evaporates.  It should be noted that the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards Report on Benzene (1994) stated that in the northern hemisphere almost all the benzene found at ground level is likely to have resulted from human activities.  The main source of benzene emissions in the outdoor environment is from the content and partial combustion of petroleum fuels (ie petrol and oil) by motor vehicle engines.  However, it should be noted that cigarette smoke contains benzene and will therefore increase the exposure of individuals.

4.1 Health Effects From Exposure to Benzene
Benzene is a known carcinogen and in particular long term exposure may give rise to leukaemia.

4.2 The National Perspective
According to the DETR, the non vehicle combustion and distribution of petrol in the UK amounts to approximately 2% of benzene emissions on average. In 1996 the total emission of benzene in the UK was 41 kilotonnes.  Motor vehicles are the most important single source of benzene on a national basis and in 1996 emissions from motor vehicles amounted to 64% of the total UK emission.  Industrial processes emitted six tonnes of benzene in 1996 (15% of the total UK emission).

The DETR expects that the national policies which are in existence to control benzene emissions will control the
emissions of benzene by the end of 2005.

4.3 The Air Quality Standard and Objective
The Government has set a running annual average of 5ppb as an air quality standard for benzene, with an objective for the standard to be achieved by the end of 2005.

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Chapter 5- FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF BENZENE

5.1 Details of Part A authorised processes present within the Authority’s area.
There are two Part A processes within the Authority, these are:-

(a) Blue Circle Cement - a cement and lime process.

(b) Premiere Environmental Ltd - an oil and solvent process.

The national guidance Review & Assessment: Pollutant Specific Guidance Blue Circle Cement is unlikely to create
Benzene in sufficient quantities to warrant action.  However, Premiere Environmental Ltd has the potential to do so.
Subsequent discussions with the Environment Agency indicate that this process will not emit significant quantity of
Benzene as it only recovers solvent and not oil.

5.2 Details of Part B processes present in the Authority’s area:-
The Part B processes within the district are listed in section 1.4 of this report. From the Annex 2 of the Review and Assessment: pollutant-specific guidance, none of the Part B processes within
this authorities area are likely to emit significant quantities of benzene.

5.3 Planned developments of the above mentioned types in the locality
An  Application for Authorisation has been received by the Environment Agency dated 28 August 1998 from Western Solvents Ltd, Brook Lane, Westbury to operate an Oil and Solvent Recovery Process. From Annex 1 Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance this process is likely to emit significant quantities of Benzene.  However, subsequent conversations with the Environment Agency indicate that there will not be significant releases of Benzene as the process recovers solvent and not oil.

5.4 Details of any significant sources of benzene in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the authority’s area Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Mendip District Council, Salisbury District Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) have all been consulted on this issue.

5.4.1 Part A Processes
Mendip District Council has the following Part A processes within its district:

(a)       Wessex Incineration, Bunns Lane, West Woodlands, Frome - Animal Carcass Incineration.

(b)        ICI, Hitchen Lane, Shepton Mallett - Di-isocyanate,

(c)        Cuprinol, Adderwell Road, Frome - Coating Manufacture.

None of these processes are likely to emit significant quantities of benzene into the atmosphere.  This has been determined from Appendix 1 of  the Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance.

Salisbury District Council has one Part A process on its district, namely:

SEPG (Operations) Ltd, A36 Warminster Road, Quidhampton, Salisbury - an electricity substation with a natural gas turbine connected to an electrical generator producing 43.8 MW electrical input.

Annex 1 of the Review and Assessment: Pollutant-Specific Guidance indicates that this process is unlikely to emit significant quantities of benzene.

5.4.2 Part B Processes
All five Local Authorities have a number of Part B process consultation with these Authorities has confirmed that none of these processes are likely to emit significant quantities of benzene from the information supplied in Annex 2 of the review and assessment: pollutant - specific guidance.

5.5 Assessment
It should be noted that the DETR is at present investigating the ambient levels of benzene in the vicinity of petrol stations. For the time being the DETR has informed us that petrol stations should be excluded from the list of Part B processes that may give rise to significant benzene emissions. From the information supplied above there is one Part A process that has the potential to emit significant benzene emissions:

Premiere Environmental Ltd, Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury - an oil and solvent process.

Western Solvents, Brook Lane, Westbury – an oil and solvent process also would have the potential to emit significant benzene emissions. However, significant Benzene emissions would only be released in the event that these processes recover oil. Discussions with the Environment Agency have confirmed that neither of these processes will release significant emissions of Benzene as no oil recovery will be carried out.  Therefore, the risk of the air quality objective for Benzene to be exceeded by 2005 is negligible.   There will be no need to consider the possibility of an air quality management area for Benzene.

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Chapter 6- 1, 3-BUTADIENE

1,3 – butadiene is a volatile organic compound which is a gas at normal ambient temperatures.  The major source of 1,3 – butadiene is from vehicle exhausts.  1,3 – butadiene is not present in petrol or diesel but is formed by the “cracking” of olefins, contained in the fuel, during the combustion process.  It is also produced as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels and is used in industrial processes in particular in the production of synthetic rubber for tyres.

6.1 Health Effects from exposure to 1,3 – butadiene
1,3 – butadiene is a genotoxic carcinogen and there is also evidence that workers exposed to 1,3 – butadiene may show a slightly higher than expected risk of cancers to bone marrow,  lymphomas and leukaemia.

6.2 The National Perspective
In the UK in 1995 petrol vehicles contributed to 67% of the national annual emissions of 1,3 – butadiene and industrial processes accounted for 13%.  The Government anticipates that roadside levels of 1,3 – butadiene will fall well below the air quality objective.

6.3 The Air Quality Standard and Objective
The Government has set a running average of 1ppb as an air quality standard for 1,3 – butadiene with a specific objective for the standard to be achieved by the end of 2005.

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Chapter 7- FIRST STAGE REVIEW ANA ASSESSMENT OF 1,3-BUTADIENE

7.1 Details of Part A authorised processes present within the Authority’s area: -
There are two Part A processes in the area: -

(a) Blue Circle Cement, Trowbridge Road, Westbury - cement and lime process.

(b) Premiere Environmental Ltd Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury - an oil and solvent recovery process.

Neither are likely to produce significant quantities of 1,3 - butadiene to warrant action, according to Annex 1 of the Review & Assessment: pollutant -  specific guidance.

7.2 Details of Part B processes present in the Authority’s area: -
The Part B processes within the district are listed in section 1.4 of this report. National guidance in Annex 2 of the Review and Assessment: pollutant-specific guidance states that rubber processes are likely to produce1,3 - butadiene in significant quantities according to the Review & Assessment pollutant specific guidance. Within West Wiltshire district there are two rubber process:

Cooper Avon Tyres, Bath Road, Melksham
Grid Reference ST902 642

Avon Rubber plc, Bath Road, Melksham
Grid Reference ST902 642

7.3 Planned developments of the above types in the locality.
Avon Rubber plc is planning to relocate its processes from its current site in Melksham.  In particular the rubber
process is to be moved to a new site on the West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury.  This move is due to take place in 1999 and will certainly be in place by 2005.  A new rubber mixing mill is to be built on the site. Cooper Avon Tyres will be remaining at its Bath Road site in Melksham, however, it will be taking over the site that was used by Avon Rubber plc.   The company plans to increase rubber manufacture at the Melksham site by 2005.

7.4 Details of any significant sources of 1,3 - butadiene in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the Authority’s area.

7.4.1 Part A Processes
Mendip District Council has the following Part A processes within its district:

(a)    Wessex Incineration, Bunns Lane, West Woodlands, Frome - Animal Carcass Incineration.

(b)    ICI, Hitchen Lane, Shepton Mallett - Di-isocyanate

(c)    Cuprinol, Adderwell Road, Frome - Coating Manufacture

None of these are likely to emit significant quantities of 1,3 - butadiene into the atmosphere.  This has been determined from Annex 1 of  the Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance.

Salisbury District Council has one Part A process on its district, namely:

SEPG (Operations) Ltd, A36 Warminster Road, Quidhampton, Salisbury - an electricity substation with a natural gas turbine connected to an electrical generator producing 43.8 MW electrical input.

Annex 1 of the Review and Assessment: Pollutant -Specific Guidance indicates that this process is unlikely to emit significant quantities of 1,3 - butadiene.

7.4.2 Part B Processes All five Local Authorities have a number of Part B processes.

None of these processes are likely to emit significant quantities of 1,3 - butadiene from the information supplied in Annex 2 of the review and assessment:  pollutant - specific guidance.

7.5 Assessment
There are two processes within the district of West Wiltshire which have the potential to emit significant quantities of 1,3 - butadiene (ie Avon Rubber plc and Cooper Avon Tyres).  Therefore, the risk of exceedance of the air quality objective cannot be considered negligible and a third stage review and assessment of 1,3 - butadiene may be required with a view to determining the risk of exceedance more precisely. The DETR has indicated that no second stage review and assessment is available for this pollutant. After considerable discussion on this subject it is likely that the main 1,3-butadiene emissions will be released during the rubber manufacturing stage.  In this case this is carried out off site.  However, no assurances can be given that during the manufacture of tyres no significant release of 1,3-butadiene will occur.  We shall initially carry out indicative
monitoring using 1,3-butadiene passive diffusion tubes.  If these show a significant release we shall move on to stage 3.

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  Chapter 8- LEAD

Lead is the most widely used non – ferrous metal in the UK and is used in the manufacture of batteries, plastics, alloys and pigments in paints and glazes.  It is also used as a  petrol additive to enhance the octane rating of the petrol, although this use is declining.

8.1 Health effects from exposure to Lead
Exposure to lead can be through inhalation of lead particles in air and by direct ingestion via contaminated food, water and dust from occupational sources.

Lead can be absorbed into the body through the lungs, stomach and intestines.  Once absorbed it spreads around the body and builds up in the bones, teeth, skin and muscles.   Lead is an accumulative poison and so levels build up inside the body.  In such cases it can lead to brain damage, delirium and fits.  In severe concentrations it can cause damage to the organs.  In cases of severe lead poisoning  anaemia can also occur.

Low levels of lead exposure can have serious effects on children, in particular, it effects the central nervous system and the developing brain,  this is often indicated by a lower than average IQ.

8.2 The National Perspective
The single largest use of lead globally is in the manufacturing of batteries.  With regard to its use in petrol (in the form of tetraethyl lead), the use of it has  decreased following the recognition of the health effects and with the increased use of unleaded fuel and catalytic converters.  In January 1986 the maximum permitted lead content in petrol was reduced from 0.4g/l to 0.15g/l.  This measure had the effect of almost halving the urban air lead levels in just a few months. In 1987 unleaded petrol was introduced to further reduce lead levels.  Since 1993, all new petrol engined cars have been equipped with a catalyst and must run on unleaded petrol.

The Government anticipates that with a number  of national policies in progress the  objective for lead at rural, urban background sites and roadside locations will be achieved by 2005.

8.3 The Air Quality Standard and Objective
The Government has set an annual average of 0.5 ?g/m3 as an air quality standard for lead with a specific objective for +

the standard to be achieved by the end of 2005.

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Chapter 9- FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT FOR LEAD

9.1 Information on current urban background concentrations due to dispersed road transport sources. No monitoring has been carried out on the district for lead.

However, the maps nationally produced showing dispersed road transport sources shows that West Wiltshire has a background lead concentration of between 10 and  20 ng/m3 (Appendix 3).

9.2 Details of Part A processes present within the Authority’s area.
There are two Part A processes within the West Wiltshire area:-

(a) Blue Circle Cement, Trowbridge Road, Westbury - a cement and lime process.

(b) Premiere Environmental Ltd. Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading estate, Westbury - an oil and solvent recovery process.

Neither of these are likely to emit significant quantities of lead in accordance with Appendix 1 of the Review &
Assessment:  Pollutant - Specific Guidance.

9.3 Details of Part B Processes in the Authority’s Area
The Part B processes within the district are listed in section 1.4 of this report. From the Annex 2 of the Review and Assessment: pollutant-specific guidance, only one part B process operated within the district is likely to emit significant quantities of  lead.  That process is Novacast ltd, Station Approach, Melksham, Grid Reference ST90 646.

9.4 Planned developments of the above types in the locality. There are no planned developments of the above mentioned types.

9.5 Details of large Part A authorised processes in neighbouring areas which could impact within the Authority’s area. Mendip District Council has the following Part A processes within its district:

(a)    Wessex Incineration, Bunns Lane, West Woodlands, Frome - Animal Carcass Incineration

(b)    ICI, Hitchen Lane, Shepton Mallett - Di-isocyanate

(c)    Cuprinol, Adderwell Road, Frome - Coating Manufacture

Salisbury District Council has one Part A process on its district, namely:

SEPG (Operations) Ltd, A36 Warminster Road, Quidhampton, Salisbury - an electricity substation with a
natural gas turbine connected to an electrical generator producing 43.8 MW electrical input.

Annex 1 of the Review and Assessment: Pollutant-Specific Guidance indicates that these processes are unlikely to emit significant quantities of lead to air.

9.6 Assessment
There is  one process within the West Wiltshire district which according to the DETR’s pollutant specific guidance is likely to emit significant quantities of lead into the atmosphere.  This is an aluminium and aluminium alloy process and is carried out at Novacast Ltd, Station Approach, Melksham.  Lead is contained within the gun metal ingots used during the process.  However, the amount of lead used in the process is considered to be trivial.  The risk of exceeding the air quality objective by 2005 is negligible.  There is no need to pursue this matter further.

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   Chapter 10- NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2)

Nitrogen dioxide is a gas produced by the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen in the combustion process.  It should be noted that wherever nitrogen dioxide occurs nitric oxide is also found, these are both oxides of nitrogen and together they are referred to as NOx.    All combustion processes produce NOx, but it is only the NO2 part which gives rise to health effects.

Natural sources of oxides of nitrogen include lightning and forest fires.  The activity of  bacteria in soil and plant
metabolism also produce oxides of nitrogen.  The major source of nitrogen dioxide in the UK, however, is derived from the combustion of fossil fuels (petrol, coal, oil and gas) especially by motor vehicles and non – nuclear power stations.

10.1 Health Effects from Exposure to Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide is an irritant gas.  In very high concentrations it can cause severe and sometimes fatal lung damage. Its properties as an oxidising agent can damage cell membranes and proteins.  At very high concentrations it causes acute inflammation of the airways.

In lower concentrations, such as experienced in busy towns and cities, nitrogen dioxide can have acute, short – term, and chronic, longer – term, effects on health, particularly in people with asthma.

10.2 The National perspective
The main sources of NO2 in the UK are road transport.   In 1996 road transport accounted for about 47% of the total NO2 emissions of 2.1 million tonnes per year, power generation accounted for 22% and domestic sources 4%.

In order to achieve the air quality objectives by the end of 2005, the NO2  emissions will have to be reduced over and above that achieved by national measures.  It is anticipated that local authorities with heavily congested roads, which have the potential to result in elevated levels of NO2 will probably need to identify the need to progress to a second and third stage review and assessment.

10.3 The Air Quality Standard and Objectives
The Government has set a 1 hour average of 150ppb as an air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide, with an objective for the standard to be achieved as the hourly maximum by the end of 2005.

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Chapter 11- FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN DIOXIDE

11.1 Information on current and 2005 forecast annual average daily traffic flows (AADT) for any existing or proposed roads in the Authority’s area with existing or predicted traffic flows which, at the end of 2005, could generate significant quantities on NO2. This involves roads with a projected annual average daily traffic flow of greater than 20,000 in 2005.

The A350 at Semington has a 1996 AADT of 17976 vehicles according to the Travel Report 1996 published by Wiltshire County Council.  The predicted AADT for 2005 is 22218 vehicles (see Appendix1) assuming a traffic forecast factor of 1.26 for 2005.

The A363 at Bradford on Avon town bridge has a 1996 AADT of 17908.  It is predicted AADT for 2005 is 22134 assuming a traffic forest factor of 1.26 for 2005 (Appendix 1).

County Way, Trowbridge, has a 1996 AADT of 24965.   (Appendix 1).

11.2 Information on current urban background concentrations due to dispersed road transport sources to be taken from local diffusion tube measurements or automatic measurements at background sites or from national maps. A diffusion to tube survey is carried out by this Authority and is located in Westbury.  There are four monitoring sites which form part of the UK nitrogen dioxide survey.  These are as follows:

Site 1: Near road site.  This is close to a busy road and is situated at 21 Warminster Road.

Site 2: Intermediate site.  This is a distance of 20 – 30 metres from a busy road and is situated at 5 Station Road.

Site 3: Urban Background site.  This is at least 50 metres from a busy road and is situated on a footpath adjacent to 17 Danvers Way.

Site 4: Urban Background site.  This is at least 50 metres from a busy road and is situated adjacent to 52 Oldfield Park.

Fig.1.

Figure 1 shows the  annual mean urban background concentration of nitrogen dioxide in 1996 against  the current annual mean (as stipulated in the review and assessment: pollutant – specific guidance) of 30 ppb.  In 1996 the urban background annual mean concentration was 23.21 at Warminster Road.  These measurements are below the 30 ppb level.

From the map showing background Nitrogen dioxide concentrations for West Wiltshire (Appendix 4) in 1996 produced by AEA Technology, West Wiltshire has a background concentration of NO2 between 5.1 and 15ppb.

11.3 Details of Part A authorised processes present with the Authority’s area.

There are two Part A processes within the Authority’s area, these are:-

(a) Blue Circle Cement, Trowbridge Road, Westbury - a cement and lime process.

(b) Premiere Environmental Ltd, Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury - an oil and solvent recovery process.

National Guidance Annex 1 of the Review & Assessment Pollutant specific guidance produced by the DETR, both Premiere Environmental and Blue Circle Cement could produce significant amounts of nitrogen dioxide.

11.4 Details of Part B processes present in the Authority’s area.
The Part B processes within the district are listed in section 1.4 of this report.

According to Annex 2 of the Review & Assessment pollutant specific guidance, none of these processes have the potential to emit significant quantities of NO2.

11.5 Planned developments of the above mentioned types in the locality, including those which will increase traffic flow.
An  Application for Authorisation has been received by the Environment Agency dated 28 August 1998 from Western Solvents Ltd, Brook Lane, Westbury to operate an Oil and Solvent Recovery Process.  From Annex 1 Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance this process is likely to emit significant quantities of NO2.

11.6 Details of any significant sources of NO2 in neighbouring areas which can impact significantly on the Authority’s area.
Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Mendip District Council, Salisbury District Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) have all been consulted on this issue.

11.6.1  Part A Processes
Mendip District Council has the following Part A processes within its district:

(a)    Wessex Incineration, Bunns Lane, West Woodlands, Frome - Animal  Carcass Incineration.

(b)    ICI, Hitchen Lane, Shepton Mallett - Di-isocyanate

(c)    Cuprinol, Adderwell Road, Frome - Coating Manufacture

Wessex Incineration is the only process likely to emit significant quantities of nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere.  This has been determined from annex 1 of  the Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance.

Salisbury District Council has one Part A process on its district, namely:

SEPG (Operations) Ltd, A36 Warminster Road, Quidhampton, Salisbury - an electricity substation with a natural gas turbine connected to an electrical generator producing 43.8 MW electrical input.

Annex 1 of the Review and Assessment: Pollutant-Specific Guidance indicates that this process is likely to emit significant quantities of nitrogen dioxide.  However, consultation with the Environment Agency and Salisbury District Council has revealed that NO2 emissions from this site are negligible.

11.6.2 Part B Processes
All five Local Authorities have a number of Part B process and these have been listed in Appendix  of this report.

None of these processes are likely to emit significant quantities of nitrogen dioxide from the information supplied in annex 2 of the review and assessment: pollutant - specific guidance.

11.7 Details of any surveys or investigations undertaken to obtain information to compile the report Since 1994 West Wiltshire has taken part in the nationwide NO2 survey.  The NO2 survey is carried out in Westbury and is comprised of two background locations, which are at Danvers Way and Oldfield Park, one intermediate location at Station Road and one kerbside location on the busy A350 Warminster Road.

Each tube is changed monthly and is sent for analysis at Bristol City Council Scientific Services.  They then provide us with a monthly average NO2 concentration for each site.

A graphical representation of the annual average NO2 concentrations for 1996 and 1997 is shown in Fig 1.

11.8 Assessment
A second stage review and assessment will be necessary to assess the likely significance of NO2 emissions in the West
Wiltshire area

The emissions of NO2 on the A350 at Semington, the A363 at Bradford on Avon town bridge and County Way, Trowbridge, are considered significant.  The two Part A processes currently on the district and the proposed one are considered to emit significant amounts of NO2.

Therefore, the risk of exceedance for the air quality objective cannot be considered negligible and a second stage review and assessment for NO2 will be required.

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  Chapter 12- PARTICULATES (PM10)

The particulates that are of concern to air quality are those that are below about 10mm in diameter which have the greatest likelihood of reaching into the furthest parts of the lung which can affect the respiratory process.  These are known as PM10

The chemical composition of atmospheric particles depends on the major sources in a particular area.  For example at a seaside resort the main constituent would be sea salt, by a busy road the main constituent will be from vehicle exhaust emissions and in a rural area it may be derived from pollen grains and fungal spores.

Releases of by PM10 can be either primary (released directly into the air) or secondary (formed in the atmosphere by the chemical reaction of gases, first combining to form a less volatile compound which in turn condenses into particles).

12.1 Health Effects from Exposure to PM10
A number of studies have been carried out on the health effects from exposure to PM10.  An analysis of eight studies in the United States calculated that a rise in PM10 of about 10 mg/m3 (as a 24 hour average) could be associated with an increase in daily mortality of about 1%.

A further analysis of four of the eight studies showed that death from heart disease was responsible for 45% of all deaths. This showed an increase of 1.4% in relation to a rise of 10 mg/m3.  Death from lung disease caused 5% of deaths and rose by 3.5% in relation to a rise of 10 mg/m3.

There is evidence that long term exposure to particulate pollution may increase the risk of developing lung cancer as well as having an effect on mortality as a result of heart and lung diseases.

It should be pointed out that the Government's Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards states that there is no clear evidence that particulate pollution at the concentrations found in the outside air is able to cause asthma (as opposed to causing attacks in people who already have the disease).

12.2 The National Perspective
National UK emissions of primary PM10 have been estimated as totalling 213,000 tonnes in 1996.  Of this total about 38% was from industrial sources, 24% from road transport sources, 17% from domestic and other low-power combustion and 16% from power stations.

PM10 is a difficult pollutant to accurately monitor and determine its sources.  However, PM10's data from the national monitoring network indicates that the PM10 standard is being exceeded at all sites.  It is, therefore, likely that this will be the most difficult air quality objective for local authorities to achieve.

Road transport and domestic combustion appear to be the main sources of PM10, however, quarrying activities will have a significant impact.

A large proportion of the current annual average of PM10 in the UK is due to secondary formation of particulate sulphates and nitrates resulting from the oxidation of sulphur and nitrogen oxides.

There are also natural and semi-natural sources of PM10 such as wind-blown dust and pollen spores.  These are outside the control of individual local authorities.

The Government has established the Airborne Particles Expert Group (APEG) to advise on sources of PM10 in the UK and its current and future ambient concentrations.  It is expected that their conclusions will be publicised by the end of 1998. Until their findings are known there is limited information made available to local authorities on how to proceed past the first stage review and assessment.

12.3 The Air Quality Standard and Objectives

The Government has adopted a running 24 hour average of 50 mg/m3 as an air quality standard for PM10 the objective for the standard to be achieved is the 99th percentile of daily maximum running 24 hour averages (that is no more than four days exceeding the standard in a year) by the end of 2005.

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Chapter 13- FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF PM10

13.1 Information on current and 2005 forecast annual average daily traffic flows for existing or proposed roads in the Authority’s area with existing or predicted traffic flows which at the end of 2005, could generate significant quantities of PM10. This affects roads with a projected annual average daily traffic flow of greater than 25,000.

From the traffic report 1996 County Way, Trowbridge, has a projected annual average daily traffic flow of greater than 25,000 by 2005.  See Appendix 1.

13.2 Information on approximate emission densities from road transport and other low-level dispersed sources (eg, domestic coal burning) of PM10. The Council has investigated emissions from low level dispersed sources (including road traffic) greater than 10 tonnes in any single 1km x 1km grid square or an average of 5 tonnes in several adjacent squares.

Appendix 5 of this report shows the map of total emissions of PM10, 1996.   This indicates that there are some emissions of PM10 greater than 10 tonnes in any 1km x 1km grid square.

13.3 Information on current urban background concentrations from suitable local measurements or from national maps. No local measurements have been carried out.

The map produced by AEA Technology on particulate background concentrations in the UK, 1996 shows that the West Wiltshire district has a maximum estimated background level PM10  20 mg/m3 - See Appendix 6.

13.4 Information on current annual average secondary particulate background concentrations from locally sited sulphate measurements or from national maps. The national maps of secondary particulate background concentrations (Appendix 7) show the current annual average secondary particulate concentration for West Wiltshire is 10?g/m3.

13.5 Details of Part A authorised processes present within the local authority’s area.
 There are two Part A processes in the West Wiltshire area:-

Blue Circle Cement, Trowbridge Road, Westbury - a cement and lime process.

Premiere Environmental Ltd, Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury - an oil and solvent recovery process.

Blue Circle Cement has the potential to emit significant quantities of PM10 according to Appendix 1 of the review and assessment: pollutant - specific guidance provided by the DETR.

13.6 Details of Part B processes present in the Authority’s area.
Annex 2 of the Review & Assessment pollutant specific guidance states that rubber processes are likely to emit significant quantities of PM10.

Within West Wiltshire district there are two rubber process:

Cooper Avon Tyres, Bath Road, Melksham
Grid Reference ST902 642

 Avon Rubber plc, Bath Road, Melksham
Grid Reference ST902 642

13.7  Planned developments of the above types in the locality, including those which will increase traffic flow. Avon Rubber plc is planning to relocate its processes from its current site in Melksham.  In particular the rubber process is to be moved to a new site on the West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury.  This move is due to take place in 1999 and will certainly be in place by 2005.  A new rubber mixing mill is to be built on the site.

Cooper Avon Tyres will be remaining at its Bath Road site in Melksham, however, it will be taking over the site that was used by Avon Rubber plc.   The company plans to increase rubber manufacture at the Melksham site by 2005.

13.8 Details of any significant sources of PM10 in neighbouring areas which could impact significance within the Authority’s area. Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Mendip District Council, Salisbury District Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) have all been consulted on this issue.

13.8.1   Part A Processes
 Mendip District Council has the following Part A processes within
 its district:

(a)    Wessex Incineration, Bunns Lane, West Woodlands, Frome - Animal  Carcass Incineration

(b)    ICI, Hitchen Lane, Shepton Mallett - Di-isocyanate

(c)    Cuprinol, Adderwell Road, Frome - Coating Manufacture

Wessex Incineration is the only process likely to emit significant quantities PM 10 into the atmosphere.  This has been determined from annex 1 of  the Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance.

Salisbury District Council has one Part A process on its district, namely:

SEPG (Operations) Ltd, A36 Warminster Road, Quidhampton, Salisbury - an electricity substation with a natural gas turbine connected to an electrical generator producing 43.8 MW electrical input.  Annex 1 of the Review and Assessment: Pollutant-Specific Guidance indicates that this process is unlikely to emit significant quantities of PM10.

13.8.2 Part B Processes
All five Local Authorities have a number of Part B processes.  Consultation with these authorities has revealed that only the mineral processes are likely to emit significant quantities of PM10 from the information supplied in annex 2 of the review and assessment: pollutant - specific guidance.  These processes are all based within the district of Mendip and are as follows:

(a)    Tarmac Quarry Products Ltd, Halecombe Quarry, Lee on Mendip
 
(b)    Francis Flower, Gurney Slade Quarry, Gurney Slade

(c)    ARC Southern, Whatley Quarry, Frome
 
(d)    Morris & Perry, Gurney Slade Quarry, Gurney Slade
 
(e)    Foster Yeoman, Torr Works, East Cranmore
 
(f)    Pioneer Asphalts, Westbury Quarry, Westbury Sub Mendip
 
(g)    John Wainwright, Moons Hill Quarry, Stoke St Michael
 
(h)    Barden Aggregates, Colemans Quarry, Holwell, Frome
 
(i)    L A Moore, School Hill, Westbury Sub Mendip
 
(j)    R M Penny, Green Street, Ston Easton

A number of significant emissions of PM10 have been highlighted in this review and assessment.  There is one known significant line source, ie, County Way, Trowbridge, one Part A process, 2 rubber processes and the ten mineral processes in Mendip.

It will be necessary to proceed to a second stage review and assessment for this pollutant to indicate how significant these emissions will be and to determine whether an air quality management area is likely to be required.

At the present time the requirements of a second stage review and assessment are not defined.  The Government is awaiting the report by APEG on sources of PM10 before further advice is given to local authorities.  This report is expected by the end of 1998.

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Chapter 14- SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO2)

Sulphur dioxide is a gas at normal temperature and pressure.  It dissolves in water to give an acidic solution which is readily oxidised to sulphuric acid.  In the UK the predominant source of SO2 is from the combustion of sulphur containing fossil fuels, ie, mainly coat and heavy oil.

In the 1950's it was the combination of SO2 and sooty particles from coal burning that gave rise to the famous smogs (smoke and fog).

These smog episodes were shown to be associated with increased numbers of chest illness and large numbers of excess deaths, mostly among the elderly with pre-existing heart and lung disease.

As a result of these episodes the first Clean Air Act 1956 was passed.  This led to a reduction in the use of coal as a domestic and industrial fuel.  A substantial reduction in SO2 concentrations resulted in urban areas.

However, since the generation of electricity from fossil fuels is now concentrated in large power stations and these are mainly sited in rural area, SO2 emissions may now be as much a rural as an urban pollutant.

14.1 Health Effects from Exposure to Sulphur dioxide
Sulphur dioxide is an irritant when inhaled due to its acidic nature.   As a result exposure can cause a reflex cough, irritation and chest tightness which may lead to the narrowing of the airways.  In high concentrations it can cause breathing difficulties in people exposed to it.

In particular, recent studies have shown that sufferers from asthma could be susceptible to the adverse effects of SO2 because their airways are often inflamed and easily irritated.

14.2 The National Perspective
The total UK emission of SO2 in 1996 was 2 million tonnes, made up of power generation (65%) other industry (24%) commercial and domestic heating (6%) and road transport (2%).

At the present time, the measurements taken as part of the automatic monitoring network indicate that there are exceedences of the air quality standard in the vicinity of industrial processes where the initial stack heights were designed to meet previous air quality standards.  Also there are exceedences in areas where there is significant coal burning for space heating.

14.3 The Air Quality Standards and Objectives
The Government has adopted a 15 minute average of 100ppb as an air quality standard for SO2, with an objective for the standard to be achieved on the 99.9th percentile (ie, on all but 35 periods of 15 minutes per year) by the end of 2005.

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Chapter 15- REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE

15.1 Details of Part A authorised processed present within the authority’s area:-
There are two Part A processes in the West Wiltshire area:-

Blue Circle Cement, Trowbridge Road, Westbury - a cement and lime process.

Premiere Environmental Ltd, Chemical Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury - an oil and solvent recovery process.

Both processes have the potential to emit significant quantities of SO2 according to Annex 1 of the review and assessment: pollutant - specific guidance provided by the DETR.  However, the potential of Premiere Environmental Ltd releasing significant quantities of SO2 will be determined by boiler throughput.  No significant SO2 emissions will be produced due to the actual process of solvent recovery.

15.2 Information on approximate emissions densities from domestic combustion and other low-level dispersed sources on SO2. The Council has looked at 1km x 1km grid squares in the authority’s area for which maximum  low level (ie; domestic combustion and other short stack) emissions are greater than 25kg per hour or 40 tonnes per year.  Where domestic emissions are the main source of concern, this can be assumed to approximate to 300 houses burning coal in a 1 km x 1 km grid square.

The emission density map for total SO2 emissions provided by the DETR (see Appendix 8) within the West Wiltshire district shows there are some low level emissions greater than 40 tonnes of SO2 per year.

15.3 Information on current urban background concentrations from locally sited measurements or from national maps.

Historically, this Authority took SO2 measurements between 1989 and 1994 (using a smoke and SO2 bubbler analyser) at Lowbourne, Melksham.   These results are depicted in graph form in Appendix 8.  The annual averages were very low for this area during this period.

15.4 Details of Part B processes present in the Authority’s area.
The Part B processes within the district are listed in section 1.4 of this report.

According to Annex 2 of the Review & Assessment pollutant specific guidance,  aluminium and aluminium alloy processes are likely to emit significant quantities of SO2.  In this case Novacast Ltd, Station Approach, Melksham (Grid Reference:  ST90 646) is a significant process due to the fact that they use oil fired furnaces.

15.5 Information on the existence of combustion systems with thermal power rating greater then 5MW using fuels containing significant quantities of sulphur (ie; solid fuels or fuel oil).
None of these have been identified in West Wiltshire.

15.6 Planned developments of the above mentioned types in the locality, including those which will increase traffic flow. An  Application for Authorisation has been received by the Environment Agency dated 28 August 1998 from Western Solvents Ltd, Brook Lane, Westbury to operate an Oil and Solvent Recovery Process. From Annex 1 Review and Assessment: Pollutant - Specific Guidance this process is likely to emit significant quantities of SO2.

15.7 Details of significant sources of SO2 in neighbouring areas which could impact significantly within the Authority’s area. Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Mendip District Council, Salisbury District Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) have all been consulted on this issue.

There are no significant sources of SO2 in any of the neighbouring authority’s areas.

15.8 Assessment
This report has indicated that there are some significant sources of SO2.   These will have to be investigated utilising a second stage review and assessment to determine their significance.

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Chapter 16- CONCLUSIONS TO THE FIRST STAGE REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT

16.1 The requirement for a second stage review
The review and assessment of the seven pollutants species detailed in this report has shown that a second and possibly third stage review and assessment is required to assess levels of carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, PM10, sulphur dioxide and possibly 1,3-butadiene.

The guidance for the structure and content of the second stage review and assessment for the above pollutants is stipulated in the review and assessment: pollutant - specific guidance produced by the DETR.

Further information is to be issued by the Government on the practicalities of carrying out a second stage review and assessment of PM10 and 1,3-butadiene.  This Authority will use this guidance and it is anticipated that the second stage review and assessment will be completed by the end of 1999.

The second stage review and assessment consists of monitoring of pollutant levels and using simple modelling techniques to assess the air quality of specific pollutants around the district.

We have purchased a real time pollution monitoring station to monitor for PM10, NO2 and SO2 with the aid of a
supplementary credit approval from the DETR.  In addition to this we are anticipating purchasing another PM10 analyser.

A further report will be issued in 1999 detailing our findings following the second stage review and assessment.

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Chapter 17- GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

These explanations are in the context this review and assessment of air quality.

NAQS   National Air Quality Strategy

Part A Process authorised by the Environment Agency under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Part B Process authorised by the Local Authority under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

mg/m³ Micrograms per cubic metre - a unit of concentrations (1 millionth of a gram of pollutant per cubic metre of air)

ng/m³  Nanograms per cubic metre (1ng = 10-9g)

ppb   parts per billion

ppm   parts per million

PM10  Particulate matter less than 10mm aerodynamic diameter.

NO2   Nitrogen dioxide

CO   Carbon monoxide

SO2   Sulphur dioxide

99th Percentile (PM10 24hr mean) Statistical analysis of monitoring period, ie, no more than  4  days exceedence in one
year (365 days)

99.9th Percentile (SO2 15 min mean)  Statistical analysis of monitoring period ie no more than 35
periods of 15 minutes exceedence in one year

Passive sampling  Diffusion tubes exposed typically over a month, useful for identifying "hotspots"

Automatic Monitoring High resolution measurements typically hourly or shorter averages.  On line and real time with high standard of quality assurance/quality control procedures required

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This web site is managed by the AQM Resource Centre, in collaboration with all group members of the Wiltshire Local Air Quality Management Sub-Group.  Any opinions expressed are those of the members of the group, and not necessarily the individual Councils represented.

Author: Nicky Woodfield
Copyright © 2002 by Air Quality Management Resource Centre, FAS, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY. All rights reserved.
Lasted up dated: 15/03/02.