Air pollution is any chemicals or particles (like tiny pieces of dust) in the air that are harmful to living things. Here at the Air Quality Garden, we are particularly interested in three types of pollution: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM).

Much of this pollution comes from vehicle exhausts. 03 pollution results when N02 reacts in sunlight on warm days.

Air pollution affects human and plant health. In people, high levels of air pollution contribute to problems with the lungs, heart and brain.

In the UK, there are legal limits for levels of pollution in the air. There are also World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. In Sheffield, air quality is regularly below both our own legal standards, and WHO guidelines.