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Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand

The Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand study, published in July 2007, shows that air pollution is associated with around 1,100 cases of premature mortality – that is people dying earlier than they would have if they had not been exposed to air pollution.

It is estimated that the effects from air pollution occur throughout New Zealand – not just in the main cities.  The primary sources are home heating nationally, transport in Auckland, and industry.

Other illness caused by air pollution include:

  • around 1,500 extra cases of bronchitis and related illnesses
  • 700 extra hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiac illnesses
  • 1.9 million restricted activity days (days on which people cannot do the things they might otherwise have done if air pollution was not present).

The bulk of effects are associated with particulate pollution (PM10), but there are also effects associated with other pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds.

The total economic costs of air pollution in New Zealand (from both premature death and adverse health impacts) are estimated to be $1.14 billion per year or $421 per person.

A significant component of the study was the development of a new air pollution exposure model for New Zealand.  The model covers 67 urban areas or 73% of the total population and has been validated against monitoring data provided by all regional councils. 

This new model is a valuable resource for regional councils as it provides realistic exposure estimates for centres where monitoring data is not available. 

The full report is available on the HAPiNZ website.

Government actions to counter air pollution

The HAPiNZ study is based on 2001 data and since that time the population has grown by about 17%.  A number of significant Government initiatives have commenced since 2001 to address air pollution including:

Background to the HAPiNZ study

The HAPiNZ study was commissioned, in 2003, by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Ministry and the Ministry of Transport with in-kind support from regional councils. The study aimed to:

  • Identify effects of air pollution throughout New Zealand and to link the health effects to various sources of pollutants
  • Confirm preliminary research that concluded New Zealanders are suffering significant adverse health effects because of exposure to outdoor air pollution
  • Incorporate up-to-date air quality monitoring, health data and exposure modelling
  • Refine existing analysis techniques and apply new techniques to produce more accurate results
  • Carry out economic impact assessments and develop potential policy options to improve health
  • Assess potential effects in previously unstudied areas.

The HAPiNZ contract was awarded to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Science. The three-year study commenced in 2003 and was published in 2007.

The study was split into two parts; an initial pilot study for Christchurch (results below) followed by a national study for New Zealand (see above).  The study examined 67 urban areas and included 73 percent of New Zealand’s population. 

Pilot Study for Christchurch

The Pilot Study focussed on Christchurch because there was already significant information on air pollution levels and population exposures.

Key findings of the pilot study for Christchurch are as follows:

  • Exposure to PM10 is estimated to cause 116 premature deaths per year in over 30 year olds (82 caused by emissions from domestic heating, 18 by industrial emissions and 16 by vehicle emissions).
  • PM10 is further estimated to cause 52 cases of chronic bronchitis as well as 247 cases of acute cardiac and respiratory admissions.
  • Other health effects caused by pollutants (including contaminants such as carbon dioxide and benzene) are estimated to result in 1.6 cases of leukaemia cancer per year and 285,000 restricted activity days per year.
  • The total costs of air pollution in Christchurch are estimated as $136M per year ($95M from domestic heating emissions, $19M from Vehicle and $22M from industrial emissions). This equates to $430 per person.
  • The most sensitive individuals include older people (particularly over 65s), infants (particularly under 1s), asthmatics and people with bronchitis, people with other respiratory problems, and people that are health compromised in other ways such as those with heart disease.
  • A number of policy options for emission reductions from the domestic, transport and industrial sectors were examined. These underscored, in particular, the need for the actions proposed by Environment Canterbury as part of their Regional Air Plan to meet the national environmental standards for air quality by 2013.
  • The greatest health impacts, and costs, occur due to pre-mature mortality caused by long-term exposure to fine particles from combustion sources (mainly home heating and vehicle emissions).

The Christchurch Pilot Study report is available on the HAPiNZ website.

Last updated: 7 January 2008