Williams, K R; Cheong, J H L; Adams, A; Bradshaw, C P; Braysher, E C; Brown, A S; Brown, R J C; Butterfield, D M; Coulson, S A; Lines, K J; Robins, C C; Schmeer, J L; Showman, Y A (2026) UK Heavy Metals Monitoring Network Annual Report 2025. NPL Report. ENV 67

Preview

Text (NPL Report ENV 67) ENV67.pdf - Published Version Download (5MB) | Preview

Abstract

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is contracted to manage the UK Heavy Metals (HM) Air Quality Network. The Network measures and reports concentrations of a selection of metals in the PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 µm) fraction of ambient air and deposition (precipitation) across the UK.

This report was prepared by NPL as part of the Network contract with the Environment Agency, on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Devolved Administrations: the Welsh Government; the Northern Ireland Executive, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland; and the Scottish Government.

This annual report contains:

- A summary of the Network structure, operation, and quality procedures.
- Annual mass concentrations of metals measured at all Network sites.
- Performance against relevant data quality objectives (DQOs) and requirements of the UK Air Quality Standards Regulations (AQSR) 20101-4.
- Highlighting of AQSR 2010 exceedances (for lead, nickel, arsenic, and cadmium in PM10), interpretation of data, and discussion of trends across the Network.

In 2025, the Network operated ambient air and deposition samplers across the UK at 23 monitoring sites with a mixture of site classifications: rural (background), suburban (industrial), and urban (background, traffic, and industrial). Thirteen of the sites were in England, six in Wales, two in Scotland, and two in Northern Ireland.

Item Type:	Report/Guide (NPL Report)
NPL Report No.:	ENV 67
Subjects:	Environmental Measurement > Air Quality and Airborne Particulates
Divisions:	Atmospheric Environmental Sciences
Identification number/DOI:	10.47120/npl.ENV67
Last Modified:	02 Sep 2026 08:36
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/10499