Table 1: Guideline values and the key health effects
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| Contaminant | Guideline valuesa | Key health effects | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Averaging time | ||
|
Carbon monoxide |
30 mg/m3 |
1-hour |
Reduced birth weight (non-smoking mothers), decreased work capacity, increased duration of angina (for those with ischaemic heart disease), decrease in visual perception, decreased manual dexterity, and decreased ability to learn. |
|
10 mg/m3 |
8-hour |
||
|
Fine particles (PM10) |
50 µg/m3 |
24-hour |
Mortality, morbidity, hospitalisation, work-affected days, increased use of medication. There is no evidence of a threshold below which adverse health effects will not be observed. |
|
20 µg/m3 |
Annual |
||
|
Nitrogen dioxide |
200 µg/m3 |
1-hour |
Apparent contribution to morbidity and mortality, especially in susceptible subgroups, including young children, asthmatics and those with chronic inflammatory airway disease. |
|
100 µg/m3 |
24-hour |
||
|
Sulphur dioxideb |
350 µg/m3 |
1-hour |
Daily mortality, hospital admissions and emergency room attendances for respiratory and cardiovascular disease, increases in respiratory symptoms and decreases in lung function. |
|
120 µg/m3 |
24-hour |
||
|
Ozone |
150 µg/m3 |
1-hour |
Increased daily mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular disease; decreases in lung function; increases in hospitalisations, and in respiratory illnesses such as cough, phlegm and wheeze. |
|
100 µg/m3 |
8-hour |
||
|
Hydrogen sulphidec |
7 µg/m3 |
1-hour |
Nuisance and unpleasant odour - sensitivity is reduced through continuous exposure. Higher concentrations lead to eye irritation, eye damage, and over-stimulation of the nervous system, causing rapid breathing, cessation of breathing, convulsions and unconsciousness. |
|
Leadd |
0.2 µg/m3 |
3-month moving average, calculated monthly |
At low levels: impairment of hearing, effects on intelligence, effects on CNS, reductions in nerve condition. |
|
Benzene |
10 µg/m3 |
Annual |
Decreased white blood cell counts, genotoxic and carcinogenic (group 1 carcinogen). Short-term exposure to high levels causes drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and unconsciousness. |
|
Benzene |
3.6 µg/m3 |
Annual |
|
|
1,3-Butadiene |
2.4 µg/m3 |
Annual |
Carcinogenic effects on humans. Acute exposure causes: irritation of eyes, throat, lungs and nasal passages; blurred vision; fatigue; headache and vertigo. |
|
Formaldehyde |
100 µg/m3 |
30 minutes |
Eye, nose and throat irritation; coughing, wheezing, chest pains and bronchitis. |
|
Acetaldehyde |
30 µg/m3 |
Annual |
Odour; eye, nose and throat irritation; coughing. Carcinogen of low potency. |
|
Benzo(a)pyrene |
0.0003 µg/m3 |
Annual |
At high levels: dermatitis, photosensitisation, eye irritation and cataracts. Animal studies note effects on blood and liver. Potential increases in lung cancer. |
|
Mercury (inorganic)d |
0.33 µg/m3 |
Annual |
CNS effects such as hallucinations, delirium and suicidal tendencies; gastrointestinal effects, and respiratory effects such as chest pains, cough, pulmonary function impairment. |
|
Mercury (organic) |
0.13 µg/m3 |
Annual |
|
|
Chromium VId |
0.0011 µg/m3 |
Annual |
High levels cause coughing and wheezing and gastrointestinal and neurological effects; chronic inhalation causes effects on the respiratory tract, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and nasal itching; and potentially effects on the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal and immune systems. |
|
Chromium metal and chromium IIId |
0.11 µg/m3 |
Annual |
|
|
Arsenic (inorganic)d |
0.0055 µg/m3 |
Annual |
May cause gastrointestinal effects, haemolysis, and CNS disorders. High levels lead to kidney failure. |
|
Arsined |
0.055 µg/m3 |
Annual |
|
Notes:
a All values apply to the gas measured at standard conditions of temperature (0°C) and pressure (1 atmosphere).
b The sulphur dioxide guideline values do not apply to sulphur acid mist.
c The hydrogen sulphide value is based on odour nuisance and may be unsuitable for use in geothermal areas.
d The guideline values for metals are for inhalation exposure only; they do not include exposure from other routes such as ingestion. These other routes should be considered in assessments where appropriate.
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