COUNCILLORS will next week get an update on air quality in the Cumberland Council area at a meeting in Carlisle next week.
Members of the council’s health overview and scrutiny committee are due to meet at the Civic Centre on Thursday (November 6).
According to the report – Air Quality in Cumberland: A Statutory Role in Improving Air Quality – the Communities and Public Protection Directorate plays a vital and statutory role in improving air quality across the Cumberland Council area.
It states: “Through our regulatory, investigative, and advisory functions, we contribute significantly to protecting public health and enhancing environmental standards.”
The report outlines the directorate’s contributions across five individually headed topics, covering key service areas, highlighting how each supports the overarching goal of cleaner air and a healthier community.
Members are recommended to acknowledge the contents of the report and offer any specific feedback or comments with regards to the critical role played by the directorate in fulfilling the Council’s statutory obligations relating to air quality.
In addition, members are asked to acknowledge the approach to monitoring, regulating, and advising on local air pollution and how this directly supports the council’s strategic priorities, including public health, environmental sustainability, and community wellbeing.
According to the report air pollution poses a significant public health risk and costs the NHS and wider society billions of pounds annually.
It adds: “It increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer and is associated with a range of health impacts including reduced lung function, worsened asthma symptoms, increased hospital admissions, and premature mortality.
“The most vulnerable groups, children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung conditions are disproportionately affected by air pollution.
“Low-income communities also face greater exposure to poor air quality due to a combination of environmental and social factors further deepening health and social inequalities. ”
According to the report the council monitors nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), and benzene because these pollutants have been assessed as posing the most serious risks to human health and the environment.
It outlines the health impacts and sources of the three key air pollutants monitored by the council including:
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) this pollutant comes from both natural and manmade
sources and is primarily produced by road traffic and industrial processes. It can irritate the lungs, increases susceptibility to respiratory infections, and worsen conditions like asthma and bronchitis; - Particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) consists of tiny particles that can penetrate
deep into the lungs and bloodstream, contributing to heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. PM₂.₅ is especially dangerous due to its small size and ability to reach vital organs;
Benzene is a volatile organic compound found in vehicle emissions and industrial processes. It is a known carcinogen linked to leukemia and other blood disorders.
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