Air quality monitoring and data

Real time air pollution map

See 'real time' air quality results across London today.

This map is on the London Air Quality Network website, managed by Imperial College London. To check current pollution levels closer to you,  type in your postcode or ‘Richmond upon Thames’ to set a marker, or zoom in on the map to check current pollution levels.

These mapped data are from the three continuous monitoring sites in the borough and are updated every hour. You can change the pollutant being mapped using the menu, choosing single or combined pollutant data.

Read more about our continuous monitoring.

Annual nitrogen dioxide map

The most recent annual bias-adjusted results for the 65 long-term diffusion tubes, which record nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) across the borough, can be seen on our online map.

View map of annual NO₂ levels in the borough

You can view average annual concentrations for each year (from 2019 onwards) by clicking on the small boxes to the left of the map one at a time.

Read more about our diffusion tube monitoring.

Annual reports

Tables of these data can be found in our latest annual status report. The use of additional diffusion tubes is detailed below.

Full bias adjusted results for each year will be available from August the following year in our Annual Status Report once the data are approved by the GLA.

All results for Air Quality Monitoring since 2005 can be found in our Annual Air Quality Reports.

Why we monitor air quality

Multiple research projects have shown that high levels of air pollution are detrimental to health, especially for vulnerable members of the community, such as:

• The elderly
• Children
• Asthmatics
• Individuals with bronchitis and other respiratory complaints

It is important to us that we ensure pollution levels are regularly checked, so we monitor local air quality using both diffusion tubes and continuous analysers.

Diffusion tubes

Diffusion tubes are a useful, low cost way to monitor nitrogen dioxide across the borough.

In addition to the 65 long-term diffusion tubes, we use NO₂ diffusion tubes to gather air quality data which helps inform planning proposals and traffic management decisions, such as the Royal Parks Movement Strategy and proposed Low Transport Neighbourhoods (LTN’s) in the borough.

A proposed LTN in East Sheen was dropped and an LTN in Hampton Hill was made permanent, partly with the help of air quality monitoring data. Diffusion tubes are also used for short-term monitoring 24/7 for a month or more where residents have concerns, including outside schools.

In January 2022 we began a three-year programme to monitor worst case scenario 24/7 for a full year outside all state primary schools within the borough. This monitoring was completed in January 2025.

The diffusion tube results can be viewed on the following pages:

• Nitrogen dioxide results - diffusion tube sampling
• Benzene results - diffusion tube sampling
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon results - diffusion tube sampling

Continuous analysers

Monitoring of air quality in the borough takes place 24 hours a day. We currently have three static monitoring units. These are located:

• Outside Castelnau Library (monitoring roadside pollution)
• Opposite Richmond train station (monitoring roadside pollution)
• At London Wetland Centre (measuring background pollution)

Continuous monitoring of the following pollutants is carried out:

• Nitrogen dioxide NO₂
• Ozone O₃
• Carbon Monoxide CO
• Particulate matter:
  • PM₁₀
  • PM_2.5

You can view these data on the London Air Quality Network’s map and choose which pollutants are mapped using the toggle on the map.

You can also plot graphs of the data for your choice of pollutant and date range using their plotting tool, including comparing more than one site.

Historical monitoring

You can view older air quality monitoring data.