Major Essex roads may be producing pollution above national targets.

Brentwood Council has been carrying out a review of air quality within the borough and has discovered that the M25, A127, and A12 all have levels of pollutants which may be exceeding national objectives.

Pollutants tested include: benzene, 1,3 - butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter (PM10) and sulphur dioxide.

The survey was carried out in three stages, with the first two stages estimating likely further pollution levels in areas affected by traffic and industry.

It concluded all national air quality objectives would be met, apart from those relating to nitrogen dioxide and particular matter (PM10) in areas close to roads carrying heavy traffic.

These two pollutants were focused on in the third stage of the review.

A computer model was used to estimate possible levels of pollution in future years.

The council has also been undertaking monitoring for nitrogen dioxide at 50 sites around the borough.

The three trunk roads of most concern are the M25, A12 and A127, as they carry the highest numbers of vehicles.

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