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<p>The Clean Air Strategy 2019 sets out our proposals for meeting our legally binding
emissions ceilings for five key pollutants – fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>),
nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>), sulphur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>)
and non-methane volatile organic compounds.</p><p> </p><p>The pollutant with the strongest
evidence for impacts on human health is PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Many of the sources of PM<sub>2.5</sub>
are also responsible for PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>0.1</sub>, and so our actions to
reduce emissions of fine particulate matter will have positive benefits for the emissions
of even smaller particles. The other four pollutants also often undergo chemical reactions
in the air, becoming PM<sub>1</sub> or PM<sub>0.1</sub> particles. The reductions
in the emissions of these pollutants will result in less pollution to undergo these
reactions, and therefore fewer PM<sub>1</sub> or PM<sub>0.1</sub> particles formed
in the air.</p><p> </p><p>a) While we have not made an assessment of the impact on
health of PM<sub>1</sub>, the independent Air Quality Expert Group published a report
into PM<sub>0.1</sub> particles (known as ultrafine particulate matter) which is available
on Defra’s UK-AIR website.</p><p> </p><p>b) Defra does not report on the health effects
of urban air quality specifically, but we do carry out assessments of air quality
nationally. The quality of our air is improving nationwide, with lower emissions and
lower concentrations, and much of the decrease in emissions has been in urban areas.
Our Clean Air Strategy is emission-source focused, and as urban areas are often where
there are most sources, these are the areas that will experience the biggest benefits
from the Strategy.</p>
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