The graph illustrates the main sources of air pollution in the UK between 1990 and 2005.
Overall, the total volume of air pollutants declined significantly over the 15-year period. While emissions from industry showed a dramatic decrease, transport levels remained stable, and households were consistently the smallest contributor.
In 1990, the total amount of air pollutants stood at around 7 million tonnes, with industrial sources making up the largest share at approximately 5.5 million tonnes. Over the years, emissions from industry fell sharply, particularly between 1993 and 1996, when there was a drop of about 2 million tonnes. By 2005, this figure had decreased to just 2 million tonnes.
By contrast, household and transport emissions started at much lower levels, each contributing around 1 million tonnes in 1990. Emissions from households saw a gradual decline, falling to roughly 0.2 million tonnes by the end of the period. Meanwhile, transport remained unchanged at about 0.8 million tonnes throughout the entire timeframe, making it the only category that did not experience a noticeable reduction.
