The quality of the air that we breathe is important to us all, and attracts much attention; from the media, the medical profession, environment groups, those responsible for public health and politicians. The continuing progress of the debate about how much air pollution affects our health, and why it does, is often reported in the press. Occurrences of high levels of pollution also raise public concern. Behind all this interest is much work by scientists and medical experts who gather data about how much pollution there is in the air, and how this affects our health. This work is complex in nature, and involves an enormous range of measurements. A considerable amount of air pollution monitoring takes place in the UK, the general aims of which can be described as follows: To understand air quality problems in order that cost-effective policies and solutions can be developed To assess how far standards and objectives are being achieved To provide public information on current and forecast levels of air pollution To assist the assessment of personal exposure to air pollution The aim of this brochure is to examine what the latest measurements from national monitoring programmes are telling us about air pollution in the UK. It covers where pollution is measured and what standards and guidelines are set to regulate air pollution. Further sections describe air pollution episodes, how pollution levels vary across the country and with time. The final section gives some sources of more detailed information.

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