Key information
Request reference number: MGLA260522-1841
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
Please confirm:
- Where air pollution measuring equipment is located in London.
- What is the frequency of the air pollution being recorded? For example, is it 24 hours a day, all year round?
- Who is responsible for recording air pollution?
- Where can air pollution data be viewed?
Our response
Different types of air pollution monitoring equipment are located across London.
The locations of air quality monitoring stations across London are available to view on the Air Quality Map. Breathe London air quality sensor network locations are also available.
Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube networks are deployed by each borough, the locations of these are available in each boroughs Annual Status Report which are publicly available on each borough’s website.
The frequency of the data collection depends on the data collection method. For the reference analysers, some take readings every minute and some every hour. The Breathe London sensors give hourly readings. These are running and collecting data 24 hours a day, all year long, unless the analyser experiences an issue.
Diffusion tubes are deployed for a month at a time and the results give a monthly average nitrogen dioxide concentration. These are deployed as required by the boroughs and could be long term monitoring or for just a couple of years, for example to monitor a specific project.
The reference analysers and diffusion tube networks are managed by the London boroughs as part of their statutory duties to monitor air quality.
The Breathe London Sensor Network is managed by the Mayor of London in partnership with Imperial College London.
The air quality monitoring data from the reference analysers is all publicly available and can be viewed either at London Air or Air Quality England, depending which data management body the local authority is subscribed to.
If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting reference MGLA 260522-1841