FAQ's - Air Quality Monitoring

1. How do you monitor ambient air quality around Walleys Quarry Landfill Site?

Our Ambient Air Monitoring Team carry out ambient air monitoring around WQLS. They do this through the use of mobile monitoring facilities (MMFs) that are located around the site.

The pollutants being monitored are hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methane (CH4), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), different particulate matter size fractions (Total Suspended Particulate (TSP), PM10 and PM2.5) and the BTEX group of organic compounds. We also monitor meteorological conditions, namely wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and pressure, at certain of the MMFs.

As it is not possible to measure odour pollution in the way the human nose detects it, we use methane and H2S as a surrogate, or alternative, for measuring odour pollution.

2. How did you choose where to put the Mobile Monitoring Facilities (MMFs)?

A range of factors have to be considered when choosing monitoring locations. We chose the monitoring sites here, in particular, because they were within residential areas where complaints had been received, and had access to the necessary power supply. We also had regard to prevailing wind direction, the local topography, and the requirement for suitable hard standing. The MMFs monitor ambient air around the site generally, which may include emissions from other local sources.

The network of MMFs that we currently have in place has proved very effective. The data capture rates have been very high and enable us to build a very detailed picture of the local ambient air quality.

The long duration of the monitoring that we have carried out captures a range of operational conditions and the changing meteorological conditions. Maintaining the MMFs at the same locations enables us to carry out a data comparison from year to year and with previous studies.

We continue to share our monitoring data with the UKHSA, who are responsible for advising on any potential impacts on human health. Their findings are published monthly on our Air Quality Monitoring page.

3. What are the potential health impacts of the emissions MMFs are monitoring for?

Staffordshire County Council and UKHSA have public health responsibilities. UKHSA provides government and the public with health information and support based on our air quality monitoring evidence. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has responsibility for monitoring for statutory nuisance.

We provide UKHSA with air quality monitoring data on a weekly and monthly basis. UKHSA publishes its Health Risk Assessment of air quality monitoring results in relation to the site on a monthly basis, including comments on potential health impacts. Those reports are available to view here.

1. How do you monitor ambient air quality around Walleys Quarry Landfill Site?

Our Ambient Air Monitoring Team carry out ambient air monitoring around WQLS. They do this through the use of mobile monitoring facilities (MMFs) that are located around the site.

The pollutants being monitored are hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methane (CH4), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), different particulate matter size fractions (Total Suspended Particulate (TSP), PM10 and PM2.5) and the BTEX group of organic compounds. We also monitor meteorological conditions, namely wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and pressure, at certain of the MMFs.

As it is not possible to measure odour pollution in the way the human nose detects it, we use methane and H2S as a surrogate, or alternative, for measuring odour pollution.

2. How did you choose where to put the Mobile Monitoring Facilities (MMFs)?

A range of factors have to be considered when choosing monitoring locations. We chose the monitoring sites here, in particular, because they were within residential areas where complaints had been received, and had access to the necessary power supply. We also had regard to prevailing wind direction, the local topography, and the requirement for suitable hard standing. The MMFs monitor ambient air around the site generally, which may include emissions from other local sources.

The network of MMFs that we currently have in place has proved very effective. The data capture rates have been very high and enable us to build a very detailed picture of the local ambient air quality.

The long duration of the monitoring that we have carried out captures a range of operational conditions and the changing meteorological conditions. Maintaining the MMFs at the same locations enables us to carry out a data comparison from year to year and with previous studies.

We continue to share our monitoring data with the UKHSA, who are responsible for advising on any potential impacts on human health. Their findings are published monthly on our Air Quality Monitoring page.

3. What are the potential health impacts of the emissions MMFs are monitoring for?

Staffordshire County Council and UKHSA have public health responsibilities. UKHSA provides government and the public with health information and support based on our air quality monitoring evidence. Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has responsibility for monitoring for statutory nuisance.

We provide UKHSA with air quality monitoring data on a weekly and monthly basis. UKHSA publishes its Health Risk Assessment of air quality monitoring results in relation to the site on a monthly basis, including comments on potential health impacts. Those reports are available to view here.

Page published: 08 Mar 2023, 12:09 PM