U.K. air quality plan has hidden teeth. (UK Dept. of the Environment publishes air quality standards)

The U.K. Department of the Environment has published an air quality strategy, claimed to be the first of its kind in Europe, aimed at cutting levels of air pollution in line with World Health Organization standards.

A department official said the most important part of the strategy is its proposed maximum pollutant levels, averaged out for various periods ranging from 15 min to a year, to be met by 2005.

Target maximums are: benzene 5 ppb; 1,3 butadiene 1 ppb; carbon monoxide 10 ppm; lead 0.5 mcg/cu m; nitrogen dioxide 104.6 ppb 1 hour mean, 20 ppb annual mean; ozone 50 ppb; particulates 50 mcg/cu m; and sulfur dioxide 100 ppb.

Environment Sec. John Gummer …