The Major Incident Investigation Board recommends the coordination of air-quality modelling and monitoring data in major air-pollution incidents.
The Environment Agency has been working together with several other government agencies to achieve this, through the creation of a multi-agency national Air Quality Cell (AQC).
The AQC's new air monitoring and improved modelling capability will be used in all major chemical air-pollution incidents.
It is already partially operating using interim arrangements and will be fully operational by April 2010.
As an established supplier to the Environment Agency, Environmental Scientifics Group (ESG), was selected to participate in the AQC through a tender process.
The company will ultimately be responsible for responding to call outs and monitoring air quality in the South East region, and is currently prepared to respond to incidents in any part of England and Wales, as part of the interim arrangements.
ESG offers a range of technical expertise and accredited services - including environmental monitoring and consultancy for air quality.
Today, an ESG team would aim to be on site to a major incident in London within 30min.
This allows ESG to commence the air-quality monitoring and analysis necessary to provide vital information as quickly as possible, helping to reduce any potential risk to local residents from the incident.
