Air quality levels across the Black Country - which areas have the highest pollution?

This is a designation made by every local authority in the country when it identifies an area where air quality objectives are not likely to be met.

The UK limit for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in each area is 40 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre) and the World Health Organisation’s guideline for clean air is 10 µg/m3 of NO2.

Each local authority makes specific action plans aimed at improving the air quality in its area. 

Most use predictive air quality models which show the hotspots where the council's Environmental Agency predicts will exceed the annual average concentration of 40 µg/m³ - this is usually areas with high levels of static traffic or busy motorways. 

Most reports show a reduction in NO2 concentrations over the past few years, which is a good thing, but concerns are also rising over PM2.5 - very fine particulates caused by vehicle emissions, industrial processes, domestic wood burning, and even natural sources like pollen. 

Studies confirm that long-term exposure to PM2.5 is linked to a number of health problems, particularly cardiovascular and lung issues as well as cancer. 

Domestic wood and coal burning are the main sources of PM2.5 in urban areas like Sandwell. 

Here are some of the most recent air quality measurements taken by local authorities in the Black Country. 

Walsall

These are some of the areas where Walsall Council has monitoring stations, and the areas where the readings of Nitrogen Dioxide micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 are among the highest. 

1. Wolverhampton Road (A454)

Wolverhampton Road has come out with the highest reading of NO2, measuring 40.1 µg/m³ - exceeding the UK limit for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).

2.  M6 Motorway Junction 9 

The M6, specifically junction 9 for the Wednesbury Interchange is another area of Walsall with the worst air pollution, with a 32.6 µg/m3 annual mean concentration of NO2 for 2023. 

3. Bloxwich Lane