AIR pollution levels across Bradford have returned to normal, following concerns earlier this week about unusually high readings in parts of the district.
A smartphone air‑quality reading taken at 11.08am on Wednesday shows pollution levels at low, with an air quality index of 3 on the UK Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI).
The reading indicates conditions are better than at the same time the previous day, with pollution levels in line with surrounding areas across West Yorkshire.
The latest map, shaded green, shows low pollution across Bradford and neighbouring towns including Keighley, Halifax, Brighouse and Pudsey.
Air pollution levels were measuring at very high levels due to road resurfacing works on Shipley Airedale Road (Image: Newsquest)
Earlier concerns over high readings
The update follows concerns raised by residents on Tuesday, when air pollution readings showed very high PM10 levels at a Bradford monitoring point, prompting questions about the cause.
Bradford Council previously explained that the elevated readings were linked to road surfacing works on Shipley Airedale Road, where an Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) monitor is located immediately next to the carriageway.
The monitor measures PM10, particulate matter with a diameter of up to 10 micrometres, and was recording temporary spikes caused by dust from surface dressing works carried out over the weekend and on Monday.
Council reassurance
At the time, Bradford Council stressed that the data reflected conditions at a single monitoring location only, and was not representative of air quality across the wider district.
A spokesperson said: “The data on the Air Quality England website is collected by central government through the national Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) and, in Bradford, is taken from a single monitoring location.
“As a result, this data reflects air quality at that specific site only and is not representative of conditions across the wider Bradford district.
“The AURN monitor, which measures PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of up to 10 micrometres), is currently recording elevated readings.
“This monitor is located immediately adjacent to Shipley Airedale Road, which was surface dressed over the weekend.
Dust flying into the air from new chippings put down as part of road resurfacing works on Shipley Airedale Road (Image: Newsquest)
“As a result, temporary increases in dust levels are being recorded in the immediate area.”
“As part of the Clean Air Plan and in-line with our statutory duty Bradford Council has a broader range of air quality monitoring across the district, including additional particulate matter monitors at key locations and a network of local sensors all of which demonstrate that air quality is improving in the Bradford district.
“PM monitoring equipment at Tong Street and in Keighley do not show elevated readings, data from these locations can be viewed via the air quality in the United Kingdom website.
“Our network of low-cost air quality sensors operates across the Bradford district as part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) network are also currently in line with levels recorded elsewhere in the region and can be viewed on the air quality dashboard.”
Levels now in line with the rest of the UK
The latest air‑quality update shows pollution levels in Bradford have since stabilised and returned to normal, with DAQI readings consistent with those seen across most of the UK.
The DAQI scale rates air pollution from 1 (low) to 10 (very high).
A reading of 3 is considered low and is not expected to pose a risk to the general population.
Residents are advised that temporary pollution spikes can occur during roadworks or dry conditions, but these usually subside once works are completed and dust levels settle.