3 Smoke and Odour Nuisance
Combustion processes can also result in localised smoke and odour nuisance. Common causes of smoke and odour nuisance from combustion processes in New Zealand include backyard rubbish burning, solid fuel and rubbish burning in domestic home heating appliances, including open fires, and industrial combustion processes.
Although generally classified as a nuisance effect, exposure to high concentrations of particles associated with localised effects from combustion processes can also impact on health in the same way as ambient PM10 concentrations. Effects are likely to include eye irritation, increased coughs and throat irritation. It is uncertain whether more severe impacts may occur, as epidemiological studies from which the particle health relationships are derived are typically based on ambient air concentrations over a 24-hour period rather than short-term localised effects.
Other amenity impacts associated with localised smoke and odour from combustion processes include impacts on visibility, soiling of property including buildings and clothing, odour nuisance and a reduced enjoyment of the environment. Although generally associated with the smoke, the odour associated with localised combustion impacts is likely to be gaseous in nature.
In some instances, localised smoke nuisance can result in frequent and significant impacts on neighbouring properties. For example, smoke emissions from a coal burner in Christchurch resulted in such high concentrations of particles that they would regularly set off the smoke alarm within the neighbouring house.
Amenity effects associated with smoke and odour from combustion processes such as outdoor burning and emissions from domestic home heating can be regulated through Regional Air Plans. For example, some air plans include prohibitions on outdoor burning in urban areas and rules relating to visible or objectionable smoke beyond the property boundary. In the absence of such regulations, Section 17 of the RMA may be able to be used to manage smoke and odour nuisance. In some areas, nuisance effects are dealt with by local councils using Section 29 of the Health Act (1956). For example, in Timaru, outdoor burning of rubbish fires in urban areas is prohibited in the District Plan because of the nuisance impacts.
Figure 3.1 shows an example of an activity that may result in localised nuisance effects. Other sources of localised nuisance effects associated with smoke and odour include domestic home heating and industrial activities.
Figure 3.1: Smoke from the burning of green material in the Hawkes Bay region
Photo supplied by Bryce Lawrence (HBRC).
