Air quality

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is a mix of particles and gases of both natural and human origin. These can come from a range of sources including transport, industry, agriculture, domestic heating and events from further afield like fires.

What are its effects?

Long-term exposure to air pollution is attributable to an estimated 38,000 deaths per year in England, according to the Chief Medical Officer’s 2022 annual report.  In Oxfordshire in 2021, it was estimated that air pollution's effect on mortality was equivalent to 320 early deaths.

Our Air Quality Strategy and Route Map

To mark Clean Air Day 2023, Oxfordshire County Council launched its strategy to tackle poor air quality – the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK.

The air quality strategy will prioritise three approaches:

1. Reducing emissions of outdoor and indoor air pollution
2. Extending the distance from pollution sources
3. Protecting those people most at risk

• Clean Air Strategy - One page summary (pdf format, KB)
• Clean Air Strategy 2023-2030 (pdf format, KB)
• Air Quality Strategy Route Map (pdf format, 351 KB)

Oxon Air website

Oxon Air is an air quality website providing air quality guidance and resources across the county. It was created in partnership between Oxford City Council, the four district councils (Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire) and Oxfordshire County Council. The website aims to integrate all relevant air quality information in Oxfordshire under one single platform. 

To find out more about how air pollution is being tackled in Oxfordshire visit Oxon Air. You can also use Oxon Air to check your local air quality and sign up to air quality alerts.

Councillor Liz Leffman's Statement on Air Quality

"Air quality has been improving across Oxfordshire in recent decades. However, levels remain above the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards in many places. It is critical that we work to improve air quality to deliver the council's priorities, particularly prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents.

"We want to do everything within our power to clean up the air in Oxfordshire. Our vision is to accelerate the improvement in Oxfordshire's air quality to reduce the health and environmental impacts of dirty air, so that all residents can breathe safely.

"By burning less fuel through changing how we travel, heat our homes and the things we buy, we can create environments that are better for our mental wellbeing, health, nature and our climate too.”

The average person will take more than 600 million breaths in their lifetime. People who breathe polluted air are more likely to develop long-term lung and heart disease as well as mental health and brain conditions such as dementia.