Bristol air quality map

Live air pollution map of Bristol

32.7K people follow this city

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Good
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Unhealthy for sensitive groups
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Contributors

3

Stations

2

Contributors category

3

Government

0

Non-profit organization

0

Educational

0

Corporate

0

Individual

0

Anonymous

Most polluted air quality stations

#stationUS AQI
1 Bristol Temple Way

37

2 Bristol St Paul's AURN

36

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Bristol MAP AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS

What information about air quality is available on the air pollution map for Bristol?

The air pollution map for Bristol is very easy to find on its main city page. The map icon can be found at the top of the page and a click on it will open a new page dedicated to the state of the air.

Once the map is opened, probably the first thing a viewer will notice is the background colour of the map. This is a direct indication of the current air quality. It is green which represents “Good” air quality. The colours can range from pale green to dark burgundy to indicate the cleanliness of the air. A full explanation of the different colours is given in the legend at the foot of the page. These colours are standard across the entire IQAir website.

Another thing to take note of is the number of coloured circles which appear across the map. These represent the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations. If, at first, they appear to be on top of each other, slightly enlarging the map will allow them to separate and become easier to see. If any part of the city is of particular interest, then by choosing a disc, another page will open with all information about that part of the city.

Each disc displays a number which is the United States Air Quality Index number or US AQI for that station. It is calculated by measuring up to six of the most commonly found pollutants in the city air. They are usually Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. When the reading has been ascertained it is then used as a metric when comparing air quality in different cities.

Briefly looking back at the main city page for Bristol, it can be seen that in October 2022, Bristol was enjoying a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI reading of 31. The chief pollutant measured was PM2.5 with a recorded level of 7.5 µg/m³. This figure is one and a half times higher than the level recommended by the WHO. Their suggested target figure is 5 µg/m³.

Immediately below the air pollution map for Bristol is listed the number of contributors there are and how many stations they operate. Currently, there are two stations which are both supplied and operated by the government.

Can any more information be gleaned from the air pollution map for Bristol?

There is more information available on the air pollution map for Bristol, but the page needs to be viewed in full-screen mode otherwise some information may remain invisible.

Once viewed in this way, a list of four options will appear on the left of the screen. These can each be turned on or off as desired to get a full understanding of what each option does.

The first option shows the location of all the air monitoring stations that supply data regarding air quality. If any of them are of interest to the viewer, they can be selected and the viewer will then be redirected to a new page, dedicated to that specific area.

The next option will show the location of any wildfires that may be burning in the vicinity. At the start of the fourth quarter of 2022, there were no such icons appearing on the air pollution map. If there were any fires, then option number four needs to be consulted as this shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and could be a guideline when guessing where the smoke will go and who might be affected by it.

Number three is the most dramatic as it changes the colour of the map to signify the current air quality. It is currently green in colour which does tell us that the air quality is “Good”. If some viewers find the colour to be too distracting, by deactivating it, the map will revert to a more subdued set of colours.

More information can be found on the right-hand side of the map where a table can be seen which ranks world cities according to the level of air pollution. By default, only seven cities are shown, but more can be displayed when the page is fully opened which then shows most of the cities throughout the world.

Directly beneath the air pollution map for Bristol are listed all the stations in order of their levels of air pollution. The most polluted area at the moment is around the station at Bristol St Pauls which recorded a US AQI reading of 25 which is still classified as being “Good”.

Below that list is another which ranks the stations according to the number of followers they each have. Currently, the station at Bristol St Pauls is top of this chart with almost 5,000 followers.

Can the source of the polluted air be traced from the air pollution map for Bristol?

The source of the polluted air is not shown directly on the air pollution map for Bristol, however, it is known to be one of the most heavily polluted cities in the United Kingdom. This is mainly due to fine particle emissions of PM2.5. These tiny particles, which come from sources such as transport, industry, coal plants and burning wood, fuels or waste, are linked to conditions including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and disease, and respiratory infections.

The report said seven million people a year worldwide are dying due to poor air quality, and nine out of 10 people are exposed to levels of air pollution that are dangerous to their health.

PM2.5 is used as a benchmark on the air pollution map for Bristol, but how dangerous is it?

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is not a single pollutant, but rather is a mixture of many chemicals. It is a complex mixture of solids and aerosols composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. Particles vary widely in size, shape and chemical composition, and may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth’s crust. Particles are defined by their diameter for air quality regulatory purposes. Those with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). Therefore, PM2.5 comprises a portion of PM10.

The aggravating factor of particulate materials is that the smaller their size, the greater the risk of contamination. This microscopic feature makes PM2.5 easily enter the respiratory system and accumulate in the human body. It can cause respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and dysfunctions in the reproductive system, reducing life expectancy, especially in developing countries.


Where is the cleanest air quality in Bristol?

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