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6
WQ.210/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st MAY 2019
Question
What live monitoring of air pollution levels, if any, is currently being undertaken in and around St Helier; and what live monitoring of air pollution levels, if any, is being undertaken around schools across the Island?
Answer
Air quality monitoring takes place at a number of sites across the island. Around St Helier air quality diffusion tubes are deployed at the following locations:
- NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) Monitoring:
Le Bas Centre, St Saviours Hill, Union Street, Central Market, Weighbridge, Liberation Station, Broad Street, The Parade, Rouge Bouillon School, Gloucester Street (Hospital), Kensington Place (Hospital), and Esplanade.
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Monitoring:
Le Bas Centre and the Central Market
Real time monitoring is undertaken at two sites in St Helier. The sites are The Central Market and Howard Davis Park. These monitoring results are published on the Government of Jersey website.
From time to time other real time monitoring is required of developers to demonstrate best practice with respect to the control of dust from demolition and building activities. These tend to be in St Helier. This monitoring is carried out at the developer's expense and is available to Environmental Health as part of their regulatory function.
In relation to schools, air quality diffusion tubes (NOx) are positioned near Rouge Bouillon School and St Saviours School. There is no real time monitoring currently undertaken near schools.
Schools Air Quality Education package
Officers from the Government of Jersey Environmental Health and eco active teams are working on an educational package for schools. This is being piloted now and will allow those schools which choose to take part to monitor air quality around their school, to better understand air quality, pollution issues, and to take part in a citizen science project. The proposed launch date of this initiative is 20th June, to coincide with the Clean Air Day.
The Journey to school.
Plans are in hand to monitor the air quality experienced by children on their journeys to school using specialist lightweight monitors. It is proposed to join the school walking bus (supervised walk to school). This too will provide useful air quality data and will include monitoring for NOx and particulates.
Development
Environmental Health are working on the expansion of real time monitoring. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by Environmental Health, Digital Jersey and AirSensa to investigate the collection of real-time air quality and environmental data using approximately 200 sensors across the entire island. The aim is to generate air quality data needed to enable individuals, industry and government to make informed choices.