Air Quality Monitoring Within The Borough of Poole
The Borough of Poole have 18 monitoring locations throughout its area and monitor for four different air pollutants. Each of these pollutants have different causes and effects. For further information see the air quality archive 
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- Nitrogen Dioxide. Monitored at 15 locations within the Borough, the principle source of nitrogen dioxide is road traffic and is formed during the combustion process from the oxides of nitrogen emitted from vehicle exhausts in the air. Therefore nitrogen dioxide is therefore greatest in urban areas where traffic is heaviest.
- Benzene. Monitored at 5 locations within the Borough, Benzene is a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and the main source is from unburned fuels or as a combustion product from petrol engines(approximately 70% of emissions). Therefore Benzene is also greater in areas where traffic is heaviest.
- Sulphur Dioxide. Monitored at 4 locations within the Borough, Sulphur Dioxide is an acidic gas combining with water in the atmosphere produced mainly from the burning of fossil fuels and domestic coal burning. UK concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide have steadily decreased in the last 40 years due to a decline in such activities.
- Ozone. Monitored at 4 locations within the Borough, ground level Ozone is caused through the reaction between nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons and sunlight, it is therefore considered a secondary pollutant. Ozone is consequently higher during the summer months and is addressed as a national issue rather than one that can be tackled by local authorities.
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