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Air quality expert group - Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in ... - Defra

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Concentrations and composition of <strong>PM2.5</strong><br />

36. Given this analysis, it is expected that the exposure reduction target will be the<br />

key driver for UK policy on exposure to <strong>PM2.5</strong>, while the PM10 objectives and<br />

limit values will supplement this control by driv<strong>in</strong>g policy on short-term (daily<br />

average) concentrations at hot spots. There may also be a role for the annual<br />

mean <strong>PM2.5</strong> objective <strong>in</strong> Scotland to drive policy <strong>in</strong> Scotland. However, the PM10<br />

objective is likely to be more str<strong>in</strong>gent for these locations and is thus more likely<br />

to drive policy.<br />

3.8.2 Relationship between <strong>PM2.5</strong> and PM10 limit values and<br />

objectives<br />

37. The 24-hour limit value and objective of no more than 35 days > 50 µg m -3 is<br />

taken to be equivalent to an annual mean PM10 concentration of 31.5 µg m -3<br />

(Grice et al., 2010). Given the ratios of <strong>PM2.5</strong>:PM10 identified for different parts<br />

of the UK (see Figure 3.8), it is possible to equate this limit value/objective to<br />

annual mean <strong>PM2.5</strong> concentrations (Table 3.1). The results <strong>in</strong> Table 3.1 show that<br />

the PM10 24-hour objective/limit value is more str<strong>in</strong>gent than the annual mean<br />

<strong>PM2.5</strong> limit value of 25 µg m -3 , especially <strong>in</strong> northern areas of the UK.<br />

Table 3.1: Indicative annual mean <strong>PM2.5</strong> concentrations that equate to the 24hour<br />

PM10 limit value/objective <strong>in</strong> different parts of the UK.<br />

Region of UK <strong>PM2.5</strong> (µg m -3 )<br />

Scotland 17 a<br />

Northern Ireland 17<br />

northern England 21<br />

Wales 21<br />

south-west and central England 22<br />

south-east England and East Anglia 24<br />

a In Scotland, this analysis only applies to the limit value, as a different objective applies.<br />

38. In Scotland the PM10 annual mean objective of 18 µg m -3 is more str<strong>in</strong>gent<br />

than the 24-hour mean PM10 objective of no more than seven days > 50 µg<br />

m -3 . Given the average <strong>PM2.5</strong>:PM10 ratio of around 0.55-0.6 identified for urban<br />

background sites <strong>in</strong> Scotland, the annual mean PM10 objective is equivalent to<br />

a <strong>PM2.5</strong> concentration of 10-11 µg m -3 . On this basis, the PM10 objective will be<br />

more str<strong>in</strong>gent than the <strong>PM2.5</strong> objective of 12 µg m -3 .<br />

67

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