The 2nd Report on Particulate Matter in the UK by the Air Quality Expert Group has been produced by Defra, providing an update on the science of particulate matter & an assessment of attainability of the Air Quality Strategy objectives & EU limit values for particulate matter. The AQEG report states that there is no known safe level for exposure to particulate matter & that it is not appropriate to rely solely on the use of air quality objectives. It concludes that although particulate matter levels have been decreasing, background levels are still high & more work needs to be done to ensure that national targets for reducing particulate matter are met. AQEG recommends that forms of regulation be considered that are based on reducing average exposure to particulate matter experienced by the UK population, which would complement the 24-hourly & annual objectives.
