Air quality management and the art of the possible
The Government has proposed a substantial watering down of its air quality objective for fine particulates (PM10) as part of a review of its national air quality strategy.1 Future dilution of the highly demanding targets for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone is also on the cards, though tougher limits have been offered for four other pollutants. The review was informed by an interdepartmental study of the costs and benefits of further reducing air pollution levels2 - a process which highlighted the difficulties in applying monetary valuation techniques to uncertain and complex areas of environmental policy.