Characteristics of air pollution in Birmingham, England. I. Trends and triumphs

Air quality data for "standard smoke" and for sulphur dioxide are presented for the period 1962-1982 to demonstrate the long-term trends in the centre of Birmingham. Little data have previously been published on this major urban area in the United Kingdom. Deviations from the long-term trends are related to meteorological conditions and the air quality is compared with standards. The improvements in air quality are considerable and are demonstrated in various ways. Changes in the urban environment had their impact on air quality in the city, but, as found elsewhere, once reductions in pollution have been achieved it is meteorological factors which influence concentrations from year to year. No effect of the nearby urban motorway on smoke stain measurements at the monitoring site was observed.