Foreword
We know that fine particles (PM10) contained in smoke emissions from domestic fires, vehicles and industry cause significant adverse health effects in New Zealand. But what about other air pollutants? Are concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), benzene and benzo(a)pyrene also high enough to affect people’s health and well-being?
This report discusses the potential health effects of these contaminants based on current monitoring information. Understanding health effects caused by these contaminants will enable us to develop appropriate national standards and to identify where action is required to reduce emissions.
For most of the time concentrations of these contaminants are generally low and therefore so are their potential health effects. However there are some places where nitrogen dioxide, ozone, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene and carbon monoxide concentrations occasionally exceed guideline values set to protect people’s health. Unfortunately, there is often insufficient information to quantify the nature of health effects where these exceedences occur. Some estimates of the number of premature deaths relating to ozone have been made, however, for the other contaminants potential health effects are described in qualitative terms.
The information contained in this report is not government policy. It is one of three technical reports on these contaminants, with the other two covering emission inventory results and monitoring results.
I would like to thank all those councils and others who have contributed data, comments and information for this report.
Barry Carbon
Chief Executive
Ministry for the Environment
