Benzene: final results published

Residents in Loddon have received letters from South Norfolk Council, which include the final report on twelve months of monitoring of benzene in the air in their town.

The report, from independent expert consultants AEAT, details the results of monitoring by an automatic air quality analyser and diffusion tubes, which picked up air quality deposits at five sites around the town.

The report and the letter were sent to those residents close to or affected by the monitoring exercise.

Councillor Philip Waltham, South Norfolk's Cabinet Member for Better Health and Safer Communities said:

"We are extremely pleased at the findings of this report. They prove conclusively that the people of Loddon need have no fear about excess benzene in the air of the town.

"The benefit of this 12 month study is that residents are being given the real facts and will be able to judge the situation for themselves.

"The facts, supplied by independent consultants AEA Technology, are very clear: The average concentration of benzene in the air over the 12 months of the survey period was 1.19 microgrammes per cubic metre - well within the stringent air quality standard of 5 microgrammes per cubic metre which is Britain's target for 2010.

"This study gives those who live in Loddon, and who may well have been worried by this issue, absolute reassurance that all is well."

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