The Hastings 1 monitoring site is the only site in the Sussex network to exceed the PM₁₀ Air Quality Strategy Objective / Limit Value. The site is located on a residential section of the A259 at Bulverhythe to the west of Hastings, around 1,100m from the entrance to a waste handing and landfill site and around 200m from a municipal services depot.

Source apportionment showed that 7 µgm^-3 or 21 % of the annual mean PM₁₀ measured at the site came from local - other sources that were not expected at typical roadside locations. It is thought that this local-other PM₁₀ originated from the resuspension of silt from the road surface or direct suspension of material from ‘dusty’ vehicles linked to the nearby waste operations. If the local-other PM₁₀ had not been present, the site would have consistently achieved the AQS objectives. The concentrations of local-other PM₁₀ at this site were consistent with our previous studies in Sutton and Hammersmith & Fulham which looked at measurements made several hundred metres from the entrance to waste facilities.

Report author Gary Fuller said, "This study adds to the growing body of evidence concerning PM₁₀ on haul routes around waste sites. The dataset for this site extends back over 4 years during which time the PM₁₀ concentrations at the site have changed. The site failed the AQS objective during 2003 but concentrations reduced during 2004 and 2005 and the site met the objective during these years. More recently the local PM₁₀ concentration has increased and the site failed the objective during 2006. Clearly determining what has changed in the operation of the nearby waste facilities will be key to the management of PM₁₀ in the area."

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Item date 05/09/2007