​Poor air quality reduces life expectancy in the UK by an average of 7 to 8 months, with equivalent health costs estimated to be up to £20 billion a year. Improvements between 1990 and 2001 have helped avoid an estimated 4,200 premature deaths a year, and 3,500 hospital admissions a year.

As part of Health Protection’s Air Quality function 2 Turnkey Osiris Particle Monitors (OSIRIS: Optical Scattering Instantaneous Respirable Dust Indication System) were purchased in 1999 and 2002. They are designed to continuously monitor particle levels, in particular Total Suspended Particles (TSPs), PM10 (Particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns) PM2.5 and PM 1.0. The Osiris units sample particles and provide a 15 minute average level. This report presents the results of the 7th consecutive year of monitoring, calendar year 2008 covered by the monitoring period January 2008 to December 2008.