Although the particulate burden within Greater Manchester is within the legal and target limits, it is acknowledged that there is no safe level for PM2.5. In September 2021 the WHO published updated global air quality guidelines and in recognition of this fact, the non-legally binding guideline value for PM2.5 has been reduced to 5ug/m3. Particulate matter is made up of many types of substances, some of which are more harmful than others. It is the more harmful substances that the 10 GM authorities are targeting.
Recent data has identified that 41% of PM2.5 comes from domestic wood and coal burning compared to 16% from industry and 12% from road transport. In November 2021 Greater Manchester authorities launched a domestic burning campaign to spread the message about the impact such activities are having on the quality of our air and advice on how to reduce emissions. (Air pollution from domestic burning | Clean Air Greater Manchester (cleanairgm.com))
Additionally, the 10 GM authorities have collectively bid for government grant funding to assess PM2.5 in more detail and if successful the aim is to have a better understanding of the sources of manmade PM2.5 across GM and to determine where interventions would be best targeted.