EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the results of the Detailed Assessment of local air quality within East Lothian, carried
out on behalf of East Lothian Council. The completion of this report was delayed while awaiting the
provision of relevant reports from third parties. The Detailed Assessment represents the second step in
the current round of the management of local air quality, as required by Part IV of the Environment
Act 1995.
The objective of the Detailed Assessment is to identify with reasonable certainty whether or not a likely
exceedence of the air quality objectives specified for a range of pollutants will occur. The pollutants and/or
sources of concern included in this Detailed Assessment were identified in the Updating and Screening
Assessment, the first step of the current round of local air quality management. The outcome of the
Detailed Assessment is to determine if an air quality management area should be declared.
The results of the Detailed Assessment are as follows:
Nitrogen dioxide levels at Musselburgh High Street
The results of the Detailed Assessment carried out for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) levels at Musselburgh High
Street indicates that the annual mean and 1 hour average air quality objectives will be complied with by
the target year of 2005.
An air quality management area is not required.
Measurements of NO2 are recommended to continue to be recorded using both the continuous analyser at
Musselburgh High Street, and diffusion tubes located at Musselburgh and the other main towns of Tranent
and Haddington.
PM10 levels at Musselburgh High Street and North High Street
The results of the Detailed Assessment carried out for PM10 (particulate matter of diameter of 10 microns
or less) levels in Musselburgh High Street and North High Street indicates that the 2004 annual mean air
quality objective will be met. The 24 hour mean objective is forecast to be marginally exceeded at
Musselburgh High Street and complied with at North High Street in 2004. For both roads, the 24-hour
mean objective specified for 2010 is forecast to be complied with and the 2010 annual mean objective is
forecast to be exceeded.
The results were based on monitoring which was influenced by roadworks carried out at both roads. It is
recommended that an air quality management area is not declared. Monitoring is recommended to
continue at both the High Street and North High Street locations. East Lothian Council have also
committed to installing a tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) analyser on North High Street,
Musselburgh in Quarter 1 of 2005 to measure concentrations of PM10. This method is more accurate than
the current method. The analyser will be situated to the east of the junction with Fishers Wynd in the
proximity of 135 North High Street. The results of the monitoring using the TEOM analyser will be
incorporated into the next round of review and assessment in 2006.
PM10 levels at Cockenzie
The existing monitoring data recorded at Cockenzie Primary School indicates that the 2004 objectives will
be complied with. However, based on these measurements, the annual mean 2010 objective is forecast to
be exceeded.
The guidance provided in LAQM.TG (03) suggests that at distances greater than 400m from a coal
storage plant, the PM10 contribution is negligible. However, the SEPA assessment of particulate emissions
from the coal storage plant indicates that the plant is contributing to deposited particulates at the nearby
residential properties. Clarification on this apparent discrepancy should be provided by a second
monitoring study proposed by SEPA to be carried out for a six-month period starting at the end of March
2005. The study would involve the use of a gravimetric sampling method to measure airborne particulates
at nearby residential properties, providing appropriate permission is granted by the residents. This study’s
findings will be incorporated into the next round of review and assessment to commence in
2006.
Therefore, it is recommended that an air quality management area is not declared at Cockenzie.
Sulphur dioxide Levels in the Vicinity of Lafarge Cement UK Works, Dunbar
The results of modeling and monitoring studies in 2001 indicated that the air quality objectives specified
for Sulphur dioxide (SO2) were not currently being exceeded, although the 15 minute mean concentrations
were close to the objective. Recent monitoring undertaken in 2004 indicated that the 15-minute mean
objective would not be exceeded. As Lafarge have committed to install SO 2 abatement equipment, which
will reduce SO2 emissions by almost 50%, this will significantly reduced ground level SO 2 concentrations in
the vicinity of the site. As such, it is unlikely that the 15-minute mean air quality objective will be exceeded
once the abatement equipment is operational.
On this basis, an air quality management area is not required in the vicinity of the
Lafarge Cement Works.
Sulphur Dioxide Levels in the Vicinity of Cockenzie Power Station
The results of a dispersion modeling and monitoring study indicated that the air quality objectives
specified for Sulphur dioxide (SO2) are not currently being exceeded.
On this basis, an air quality management area is not required in the vicinity of the Cockenzie Power
Station.