Air pollution levels fall during lockdown

AIR pollution levels fell by nearly two-thirds in one street in Carmarthenshire during the early part of the coronavirus lockdown, but bucked the trend and increased in another.

Nitrogen dioxide levels are measured in 91 locations across the county, with many sited at three designated air quality management areas in Llandeilo, Carmarthen and Llanelli.

Roads across the county were quiet in April, like the rest of the UK, which generally resulted in a marked drop in nitrogen dioxide levels and cleaner air.

And that improves the prospect that some hotspot areas might not exceed the legal limit of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre, measured as an annual average.

Average nitrogen dioxide levels in Bridge Street, Llandeilo, in April were almost a third of those in March – and nearly a quarter of the January level – according to a report going before the council’s executive board.

But nitrogen dioxide levels in April actually increased in Station Road, Burry Port, and Ammanford’s Wind Street, compared to March.

Weather conditions play a noticeable part, with pollutants dispersed more effectively when it’s windy.

The report said: “It is however clear that we have measured significant lower levels of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) during April and May 2020 across Carmarthenshire’s AQMAS (air quality management areas), and for the first time in over seven years all monitoring sites measured a monthly reading below 40 microgrammes per cubic metre.”

Levels have risen as lockdown measures eased – and Llanelli’s Felinfoel Road and Carmarthen’s Priory Street remain hotspots for the two towns.

The report said the data showed how much air quality could improve by reducing non-essential car journeys.