Sulphur dioxide in the Royal Borough

Monitoring

Sulphur dioxide is monitored using an automatic ultra-violet fluorescence analyser. The concentration of sulphur dioxide is calculated by measuring the fluorescent radiation energy produced when the sulphur dioxide molecules are bombarded by UV radiation.

Sulphur dioxide is monitored at the North Kensington site and Cromwell Road. For further information on the individual sites see Table of Monitoring Sites. You can get the latest readings and historical data at www.airquality.co.uk

For information on the sources and health effects of sulphur dioxide pollution, see Sources and health effects of air pollution

Long term trends

There has been a steady downward decline in annual mean concentrations of sulphur dioxide since the 1980's, this has levelled out in more recent years. There have been no exceedences of air quality objectives in the Borough for many years.

Annual mean levels of sulphur dioxide continuous and non continuous monitoring sites

Annual mean levels of sulphur dioxide continuous and non continuous monitoring sites - micrograms/cubic metre (mg/m³)
Year	Dovehouse St	Town Hall	Cromwell Rd/1	North Kensington	Bloomsbury
1979	79.0	92.0	121.7
1980	60.6	73.1	119.0
1981	73.0	88.0
1982	65.7	64.0	70.3
1983	55.0	57.0	54.1
1984	50.0	52.0	62.2
1985	33.0	33.0
1986	39.0	38.0
1987	36.0	41.0
1988	34.7	34.0
1989	38.9	34.7	54.1
1990	26.6	27.2	46.0
1991	33.8	33.0	51.4
1992	29.0	28.0	40.6		29.0
1993	28.0	26.0	37.9		30.0
1994	25.9	25.7	32.4		26.0
1995			26.0		23.0
1996			24.0	12.0	21.0
1997				12.0	18.0
1998			14.0	8.0	19.0
1999			10.64	5.32	13.3
2000			7.98	6.118	10.91
2001			7.98	5.32	10.64
2002			7.98	5.32	7.98
2003			6	5	8
2004			4.7	4	5