Air quality in Solihull

In this section:

How are we monitoring air quality in Solihull?

Generally, Solihull has good levels of air quality by national standards. The council carry out monitoring across the borough to measure pollutants of concern. These include:

  • Nitrogen Dioxide NO2
    There are currently around 30 passive diffusion tube monitoring sites around Solihull to monitor NO2. Each year results are presented in the Annual Status report. We review results to ensure that sensitive receptors (e.g. homes and schools) achieve national air quality standards. While we have not had to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), the Council continues to concentrate on this pollutant in our Air Quality Strategy and its associated Action Plan.
  • PM2.5, PM10 and NO2
    Solihull Council are now part of the largest network of air quality sensors outside of London.
    Funded by government grants secured by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), sensors have been installed at various locations across Solihull and the rest of the West Midlands.
    The sensors produce near real time air quality monitoring data which can be accessed through a new West Midlands Air Quality Data Platform. The data platform provides local readings from the network of sensors and other relevant information for the region, allowing residents and businesses across the West Midlands to monitor air quality in their neighbourhoods in near real-time.
    The platform shows the location of sensors and makes it possible to obtain readings on PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 levels on an hourly basis, as well as making it possible to download data and obtain charts for seven and 30 days of readings.
    The West Midland Combined Authority website and data platform is available at cleanair.wmca.org.uk.

How can I reduce my own emissions?

You can take a range of actions to reduce your own emissions. A good place to start in reducing  your own emissions is to look at how you shop, travel, cook, heat, and use your home. Below are some of the ways you could help to improve air quality:

  • Avoid vehicle idling, if safe to do so switch off your engine when you are in stationary traffic or parked
  • Drive less
  • Use public transport
  • Join a car share scheme
  • Cycle / walk to work or school where practicable.
  • Consider buying low-emission electric or hybrid vehicles
  • Insulate your home to reduce heating need
  • Make sure your boiler is serviced each year to help keep it burning fuel cleanly.
  • Avoid having bonfires. 
  • Avoid using an open fire or wood burning stove 

How can I protect myself from pollution?

There are all sorts of things you can do to reduce your exposure to pollutants. These include:

  1. Think about all the chemicals, sprays, air fresheners, candles and cleaning products that you use in your home. Do some research and choose products that are better for you, your family and the environment.
  2. Think about how you cook food in your home. Avoid producing smoke or fumes when you cook (indoor air quality can be severely impacted by cooking with fossil fuels or producing smoke from for example frying food). Open windows when you cook to vent your kitchen, especially if the whole family use this room regularly.
  3. Try not to exercise close to sources of pollution or near to vehicles with their running engines, and if you can, avoid exercising along roads that you know suffer from traffic queuing and congestion. If it is safe, to do so chose a quieter path and avoid rush hour as this is when pollution levels tend to be at their highest.
  4. You can check pollution levels in the UK via the UK AIR government website ( interactive map - UK Air Pollution Forecast for up to 5 days ahead). You will also be able to look at local levels of air pollution when Solihull’s sensor network is up and running. This may help you avoid areas where levels of pollutants are elevated.

Where can I find out more about air quality?

More information about air quality is available on other websites.

These include: