Tackling air pollution needs less modelling, more measurement

Martin Guttridge-Hewitt speaks to Duncan Mounsor, Managing Director at Enviro Technology Services, to learn about advancements in air monitoring technology of the last 30 years, and the most important policy changes to clean up Britain’s atmosphere. 

‘You’ve probably heard of Moore’s Law, which basically says microprocessors double in power with each generation. A similar principle applies to semiconductor components in electronics,’ Duncan Mounsor tells Air Quality News. 

As Managing Director of Enviro Technology Services, he’s well placed to comment. Joining the air quality measurement specialist 33 years ago, he’s observed a lot of change in the sector since 1990. Not least the forward march of tech. 

‘There’s been a huge movement towards laser based and optical technology, which is where it’s all happening right now for measuring gaseous molecules and particulates. These systems just weren’t available 30 years ago, and the technologies have not only evolved in that time, but become cheaper – especially in terms of the type of lasers you need for measuring gases,’ he explains.

‘People have figured out that you can use lasers to measure all different types of gases, and to look for particles,’ Mounsor says. ‘ Today the equipment is usually much faster and more precise than when I started out… generally, they’re getting smaller, lighter, have less requirements, and don’t use as much power as they did.’ 

There’s plenty of evidence to support the positive impact advancements have had on the UK’s air pollution, too. When asked how he feels the country has done in terms of working towards a cleaner atmosphere, we’re quickly told that progress has been ‘absolutely fantastic’. Moving away from old coal-fired power stations has had a huge impact. As has investing renewable energy sources, and introducing legislation to take the dirtiest vehicles off the road. It’s unlikely much of this would have happened without effective measurement infrastructure. 

‘But the issue hasn’t gone away. The UK’s biggest urban air pollution problem is still vehicle emissions and transport. So, you know, there’s this big push to electric and hybrids, but there are still so many petrol and diesel vehicles out there. Each one carries a combustion power source, each produces air pollution. So, yes, things have got better, especially from an industrial perspective… [but] at least 50,000 people die prematurely each year because of their air they breath. And that’s the UK – a top 10 global economy,’ says Mounsor. 

‘Often it’s the most disadvantaged people impacted most. Those at the lower income levels,’ he continues. ‘They can’t choose where to live, whereas many of us would try to move if air pollution was a problem. Unfortunately, a lot of people can’t, and end up spending most of their lives in areas where pollution levels are high and this has a big effect on their health,’ he says, citing the tragic case of Ella Adoo Kissi-Debrah, the ten-year-old who became the first person in Britain to have air pollution listed as a cause of death. 

If technology is leading the march to clean up pollution, policy often lags behind. A decade after the shock of a child dying due to dirty air, the UK still hasn’t fully ratified the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, also known as Ella’s Law. And, while international climate agreements and domestic energy and economic pressures are catalysing progress in many ‘green areas’, this often feels too slow and piecemeal. We ask for Mounsor’s thoughts on reforms that could speed things up. 

‘People are more aware of air pollution than ever, but that’s still a big issue – the majority won’t even give the air they breathe a second thought,’ he replies. ‘Air pollution is invisible, you can’t taste it or smell it usually. It’s up to local authorities, and the Government, to actually make sure monitoring stations are capable of confirming to us that what we’re breathing is OK. If not, there’s a statutory duty, a responsibility, to clean things up. 

‘That’s the hard part, because obviously we have this big behavioural change, a shift needed to get people less dependent on cars,’ he continues. ‘I think the fundamental thing really is to be measuring properly. A lot of times in the UK, we’re reliant on computer modelling to advise on how clean the air is. That’s basically an educated guess based on the quality of information going into the models. Sometimes they’re right, sometimes they’re wrong. We believe more real time monitoring should be done, especially in problem areas.’ 

Despite this warning, Mounsor is quick to point out that things are heading in the right direction. His company works alongside councils, regulators, government departments and more, helping them upgrade and expand monitoring networks. As he explains, a number are already invested in technology that will still be fit for purpose in the 2030s. And more monitoring stations have also been established, increasing reach and improving access to that data. 

‘It can be a very conservative business, air quality monitoring – technologies used to measure nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates have been around for many years… So we see it as our role to be looking at the horizon, scanning for the new technologies that are having real impact, then bringing these to the UK market,’ he tells us, before explaining Enviro Technology Services is also now at the forefront of ‘the circular idea’ Simply put, tackling climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and other environmental challenges need collaboration and shared knowledge.  

‘In 2023, Enviro Technology Services celebrates its 40th anniversary. And after almost 40 years as a privately owned, independent company, we were acquired by an exciting and relatively new firm, Cura Terrae,’ says Mounsor. ‘The group is already involved in water and waste water monitoring through a company called EMS, they test industrial stack emissions under the Envirocare brand, and there’s an environmental consultancy service for habitats and ecology – Ecus Ltd. So adding air pollution to these arms brings everything together as a whole, covering all bases.’

Images: Enviro Technology Services