New site to monitor air quality in Brighton area

Fine particulate pollution contributes to more than one in 20 deaths of over-30s in Brighton and Hove, says the council

A new website has been launched that allows residents in parts of Sussex to check air pollution in their area.

Brighton and Hove City Council's (BHCC) site offers real-time air-quality readings 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The data comes from a network of sensors installed over the last year in and around Brighton, the South Downs National Park, the A27 and A23, Shoreham-by-Sea, Newhaven and Horsham.

The council said the website would help tackle pollution and raise awareness about the impact on air quality of vehicle and gas boiler emissions, plus smoke from log burners and fireplaces.

'Big step forward'

The local authority said solid fuel burning was a significant source of fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5.

It said this was a huge problem for people with asthma and contributing factor to more than one in 20 deaths of people over 30 in Brighton and Hove.

The 50 sensors - partially funded by Defra - will measure nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter, alongside temperature, pressure and humidity.

Tim Rowkins, cabinet member for net zero and environmental services, said the monitoring site was a "big step forward".

The city council says more work is needed to improve air quality

"It will enable us to build a much more detailed understanding of what kinds of pollution are happening where and at what times," he said.

"This will be extremely useful as we begin to take action to address particulate pollution.

“The impact on public health is too great to ignore. There is a lot of work to be done, both locally and nationally."

The Brighton & Hove and Sussex Real-Time Air Quality Portal can be viewed by clicking here.