At the beginning of the year Westminster City Council added an instrument at their site on Oxford Street to measure nitrogen dioxide. The site has been measuring PM10 since June 2010, and the output from the new addition will be of considerable interest on Europe’s busiest shopping street. The new data will also enable PM source apportionment on Oxford Street for the first time.

Nitrogen dioxide emissions continue to cause problems for the Government in meeting European Air Quality Objectives, and are a particular issue in extremely busy roadside locations such as this.

A large number of buses and taxis operate on Oxford Street. These types of diesel vehicles have been found to emit a relatively high proportion of primary nitrogen dioxide compared to petrol vehicles, increasing concerns about poor air quality in addition to the already high volume of traffic. The Greater London Authority (GLA) reported in 2010 that 100,000 pedestrians pass by the busiest part of Oxford Street every day. The new instrument will therefore be invaluable in quantifying pollution exposure of the street’s many visitors, local residents and local workforce.

Item date 10/01/2013