Archived publication
This publication is no longer current or has been superseded.
Foreword
Regional air quality monitoring programmes have increased significantly over the past 10 years so that we now have a reasonable picture of particle concentrations in many New Zealand towns and cities.
This technical report on the concentrations of fine particles (PM10 - particles less then 10 microns in diameter) summarises monitoring data from sites around New Zealand up until 2001/2002. It highlights that PM10 concentrations frequently breach the Ministry for the Environment's ambient air quality guideline values of 50 µg/m3 (24 hour average) and 20 µg/m3 (annual average) in many urban areas.
Some of the data presented have been extrapolated in order to make comparisons between locations and monitoring methods. For example, where only periodic or short term monitoring has been carried out, the potential number of guideline value exceedences has been estimated as if daily monitoring has been done. For this reason, readers should be aware that the data might appear to be different from that released by the respective council. Full explanations of how the extrapolations have been calculated are provided in the report.
Understanding the concentrations of PM10 and their health effects will help to set appropriate national environment standards for PM10 and enable the benefits of achieving them to be examined. The report forms part of the section 32 analysis required for standards development. It is one of four technical background reports on PM10, with the others covering: emission inventory results, amenity issues and health effects.
I would like to thank all those councils who contributed data for this report.
Barry Carbon
Chief Executive
