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Government of Gibraltar Logo Government of Gibraltar Logo

Air Quality

Our air monitoring programme was started in April 2005 with the set up of two air monitoring stations, classified as a roadside and a sub-urban station. The stations were sited at locations recommended by UK air quality consultants from AEA Energy and Environment to ensure that they complied with the EU Air Quality Directives. The Directives establish annual limits or target values regulating specific ambient air pollutants. Its objective is to monitor air pollutants to check that the target levels are being kept and taking action when they are exceeded. In May 2008 a third station was added, specifically to monitor nitrogen dioxide in the south district. The primary objectives of the monitoring network are:
- To provide the public with rapid and reliable information on urban air quality.
- To monitor compliance with European Directives and local statutory instruments.
- To assist in developing new policies.



The instrumentation deployed was selected to meet the data quality objectives within the European Air Quality Directives and national legislation. The monitoring equipment itself forms only one aspect of the overall Gibraltar Air Monitoring Programme. Appropriate maintenance and support, coupled with a well-designed and managed quality control regime ensures that the raw monitoring data obtained are successfully processed, analysed and interpreted in order to provide information and ensure compliance requirements under the Air Quality Framework and Air Quality Daughter Directives. Gibraltar air pollutant measurements are underpinned by a rigorous quality assurance and control programme. The non-automatic network consists of a diffusion tube programme for Nitrogen Dioxide and Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes (BTX) as well as three partisol filter (Gravimetric) units which are used to monitor particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5), Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (measured as Benzo(a)pyrene). In addition to meeting the Gibraltar Government's monitoring obligations, the data itself is disseminated in near real-time on the www.gibraltarairquality.gi web site.This web-based dissemination and reporting forms an important tool for delivery of air quality data and provides descriptive statistics to a broad range of end users.

Ozone Depleting Substances

The ozone layer is a layer of gas in the upper atmosphere which protects humans and other living things from the harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) rays of the sun. In the 1970s scientists discovered that certain man-made chemicals could destroy ozone and deplete the ozone layer. Research has found that chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol sprays, refrigeration, insulation and air conditioning are contributing to the accumulation of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in the atmosphere. The EU has legislated to ensure ozone depleting substances are phased out and not placed on the EU market. To find out more on the EU policy on ozone depleting substances follow the link:

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European Commission

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The phasing out of ozone depleting substances (ODS) has helped to fight climate change since many ODS are also powerful greenhouse gases. The Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer applies locally. Ozone depleting substances listed in the Regulation will not be allowed to be imported locally unless accompanied by an EU licence. All local importers or retailers who do not abide by this legislation will face financial penalties. To find out more on the type of products which contain ozone depleting substances click on the link below:

Combined Nomenclature codes of goods that may fall under Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on ozone depleting substances

 

Persistent Organic Pollutants


The term "Persistent Organic Pollutants" (POPs) refers to a diverse group of chemicals which are toxic, persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in fatty tissues and biomagnify through the food chain. In addition, POPs have the potential to be transported long distances and deposited far from their place of release. Consequently, POPs are found in pristine environments such as the Arctic and Antarctic. POPs have been identified as priority chemicals for action for many years. The international community has therefore called for actions to reduce and eliminate their production, use and release, via the mechanism of the Stockholm Convention on POPs.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) entered into force on 17 May 2004. it is a global treaty signed by 178 states and regional economic integration organisations with the objective of protecting human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants.

HM Government of Gibraltar's continuing goal is to protect human health and the environment from the risks posed by POPs and to reduce the total releases derived from anthropogenic sources of each of them. Over the past decade, HM Government of Gibraltar has taken steps to identify, quantify and manage the major sources of unintentional releases of dioxins, PCBs, PeCB and HCB listed in the Convention.

This National Implementation Plan (NIP) sets out how we will implement our obligations under the Convention.