Air quality on some of Cardiff's most polluted streets has improved since pre-pandemic levels, according to a new Cardiff council report. The improvement in air quality during 2021 as reported in the Councils 2022 Annual Progress Report, was seen across the city from data collected at monitoring stations.
Air quality in the city is monitored on an annual basis across a full 12-month period to ensure figures are representative across a full year. There are monitors in various locations across the city with the report showing the council was compliant with all ‘limit vales’ for pollutants which are set out in legislation.
However, the report also showed that the improvement in air quality could be linked to less vehicle usage. The improvement in air quality levels from 2019 seems to have a direct link to the number of vehicles on our roads. The council said that the latest figures show, on average, vehicle traffic is at 80% of pre-pandemic levels, with air pollution levels reducing by approximately 20% during the same period.
