Appendix 1: Relationships to other Ministry and government programmes

Air Quality Management Programme

The Ministry's Air Quality Management Programme develops national tools and guidance to promote sustainable local air quality management. It aims to improve the quality, consistency and cost-effectiveness of monitoring and managing air quality in New Zealand. The Ministry works collaboratively with other government departments, councils and other stakeholders.

Current projects include:

  • development of guides on atmospheric dispersion modelling and assessing discharges to air
  • reviewing the Ministry's 1995 Guide to Odour Management under the RMA
  • preparation of a Particle Action Plan to address emissions of particles from all sources, but especially domestic fires, which may include a national environmental standard
  • consideration of indoor air quality - its likely impacts on people's health and responsibilities for its management.

Completed projects published by the Ministry include:

  • Good Practice Guide to Assessing and Managing the Environmental Effects of Dust Emissions (2001a)
  • Good Practice Guide to Monitoring and Managing Visibility in New Zealand (2001b)
  • Good-practice Guide for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring and Data Management (2000a)
  • Emissions Testing and Compliance Monitoring of Discharges to Air (1998c).

Organochlorines Programme

The Ministry's Organochlorines Programme recently sought comment on a draft Action Plan for Reducing Discharges of Dioxin to Air that includes a proposed national environmental standard for dioxin emissions. A large-scale monitoring programme was implemented in the early stages of this Programme to ascertain the level of dioxins and furans in different environments.

Hazardous Waste Management Programme

These 2002 Guidelines include air contaminants arising from the management of hazardous waste. The guideline values and Dioxin Action Plan will be taken into account in developing the Ministry's Hazardous Waste Management Programme.

Climate change policy

In general, both the ambient air quality guidelines and climate change policies aim to manage and, where appropriate, reduce the emissions of contaminants into the air. The Ministry aims to ensure that these programmes are complementary.

Government action on energy efficiency and renewable energy

Energy efficiency is at the heart of the Government's energy policy. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is responsible for achieving the Government's energy policy goals and, specifically, energy efficiency and renewable energy policy. EECA also supports and complements other Government actions to improve the nation's environmental and economic performance, with emphasis on the housing, transport, business, industrial and other sectors with significant energy use.

EECA's focus is on developing and implementing a diverse range of operational energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy conservation programmes. EECA was recently designated a Crown entity role under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000. The Act has put EECA in a position to lead the Government's charge to engage all sectors of the economy in the drive towards greater energy efficiency and renewable energy uptake.

Many energy-efficiency improvements and greater uptake of renewable energy have direct benefits in terms of reducing air emissions. The links between reducing air pollution and undertaking energy efficiency measures will be examined on an ongoing basis.

Reducing vehicle emissions

The Ministry of Transport leads the development of policies to reduce vehicle emissions. It is currently implementing initiatives in the Vehicle Fleet Emissions Control Strategy (VFECS), and exploring additional measures.

The VFECS package includes:

  • developing a rule to formalise an emissions standards regime for vehicles entering the national fleet
  • providing information and tools to enable the use of environmental capacity analysis and local traffic management techniques to tackle local air quality problems
  • reviewing the automotive petroleum fuel specifications (led by the Ministry of Economic Development)
  • amending the Traffic Regulations to enable the police to enable drivers of excessively smoky vehicles to be fined more easily
  • reviewing the Ambient Air Quality Guidelines and air quality monitoring methods (led by the Ministry for the Environment).

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act

A number of the new air contaminants covered in this document are used (in liquid or other form) in manufacturing and other processes. As a result, their use - and to some extent their disposal - come under the provisions of the HSNO Act. However, ERMA may take some time to evaluate the chemicals and determine specific environmental criteria and conditions of use. Once this has been done, these regulations and requirements will have greater weight than the air quality guideline values.

Environmental Performance Indicators Programme

The EPI Programme develops and uses indicators to measure and report on how well we are looking after our environment. The Ministry is currently collating data and sorting out data management arrangements with monitoring agencies for the Stage 1 air indicators (see Table A1).

Table A1: Air indicators

Indicator Stage
Carbon monoxide 1
Particles (PM10) 1
Nitrogen dioxide 1
Sulphur dioxide 1
Ozone 1
Visibility 2
Particles (PM2.5) 2
Benzene 2
Lichen coverage and diversity 2

Appendix 2: Summary table of actions required by air quality category

Action Alert Acceptable Good/Excellent
Definition Above the guideline 66-100% of the guideline 33-66% of the guideline

Good: 10-33% of the guideline

Excellent: 0-10% of the guideline

EPI category description Exceedances of the guideline value are a cause for concern and warrant action, particularly if they occur on a regular basis This is a warning levels, which can lead to exceedences if trends are not curbed. This is a broad category, where maximum values might be of concern in some sensitive locations but are generally at a level that does not warrant dramatic action.

Good - Peak measurements are unlikely to affect air quality

Excellent - of little concern: if maximum values are less than 10th of the guideline, average values are likely to be much less.

Action required Achieve guideline value within shortest possible timeframe; investigate and monitor comprehensively Reduce further, where practicable, and monitor Maintain, reduce where practicable and monitor periodically Maintain and monitor occasionally
Recommended monitoring/ investigations

Set up comprehensive continuous monitoring

Compile detailed emissions inventory

Investigate how emissions are likely to change over time

Determine potential spatial extent of exceedances

Carry out meteorological monitoring

Set up continuous monitoring

Compile a detailed emission inventory

Investigate how the situation may change over time

Investigate the location and cause of maximum results

Check location of monitoring sites and their representativeness

Undertake meteorological monitoring

Consider regular monitoring to check for any trends

Compile basic emissions inventory

Examine cause of maximum results

Investigate how emissions/air quality is likely to change over time

Carry out periodic monitoring using survey techniques

Check siting of monitors

Management issues

Establish and implement management options to ensure pollution levels are reduced within the shortest time frame possible

Alert public to location, severity and extent of guideline breaches

If the situation is likely to worsen with peaks entering the alert category: establish and implement management options to ensure pollution levels do not worsen

If situation is likely to remain the same: implement measures to ensure emissions do not increase

Where increases in emissions are unlikely: consider management options to maintain ambient air quality

If emissions are likely to increase: instigate management options to address these potential increases

Examine desired state/uses/ values of the air resource and potential future uses

Establish management techniques accordingly

If the air is in or near to pristine environments (e.g. national parks, protected national areas), strict controls may be required

Special investigations

Examine population exposure to air with high pollution levels

Determine potential health effects on population exposed

Consider monitoring of hazardous air contaminants

Investigate the spatial extent of the pollution concern None None

Appendix 3: Background information on hazardous air contaminants

Contaminant Health effects Classification Unit risk x 10-6 Various guidelines (µg/m3) (annual averages unless otherwise stated)
IARC* US EPA* (potency) WHO US EPA CARB UK EC TWA/ 100 WHO US
Benzene Haemotoxic; genotoxic; carcinogenic 1 A (medium) 4.4-7.5 8.3 29 18 (now)
3.6 (goal)
10 (now)
5 (2010)
18 - -
1,3-Butadiene Neurological; irritation of eyes, throat, lungs and nose; mutagenic; carcinogenic (?) 2A B2 (medium) - 280 170 2.4 - 24 - -
Formaldehyde Irritation of eyes, throat, nose and respiratory symptoms; nasal cancer 2A B1 (medium) Very low 13 6 - - 9.2

100 normal

10 hypersensitive (30-min)

-
Acetaldehyde Irritation of eyes, throat, nose and respiratory system; nasal cancer 2B B2 (low) 15-90 2.2 2.7 - - 3600 2400 (24-hour) 9 (RfC)
Benzo(a)pyrene Dermatitis; photosensitisation; eye irritation; cataracts; lung cancer (?) 1 B2 (medium) 87,000 - - - - - - -
Mercury** CNS; gastrointestinal; respiratory system; kidney 2B(m)
3(I)
C (medium)
D (low)
- - - - - 0.1(al)
0 25(I)
1.0(ar)
1(I) 0.3(I)
(RfC)
0.3(I)
(REL)
Chromium VI Respiratory; gastrointestinal; liver; kidney; immune system; blood 1 A (high) 11,000-130,000 1200 150,000 - -  
0.1-0.5
- 0.0023
Chromium III and metal 3 D - - - - - 5.0 - -  
Arsenic (inorganic) Gastrointestinal; haemolysis; central and peripheral NS; eyes; skin; mucous membrane 1 A (high) 1500 4300 1500 - - 0.1 - 0.41 (REL)
Arsine 1.7 - 0.055 (RfC)                

* IARC classes and US EPA equivalents are as follows.

IARC Descriptor USEPA
1 The agent (mixture) is carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstances entail exposures that are carcinogenic to humans. A
2A The agent (mixture) is probably carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstances entail exposures that are probably carcinogenic to humans. B1
2B The agent (mixture) is possibly carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstances entail exposures that are possibly carcinogenic to humans. B2, C
3 The agent (mixture or exposure circumstances) is not classifiable for humans. D
4 The agent (or mixture) is probably not carcinogenic to humans.  

** Abbreviations for mercury: Organic (o) = [methyl (m), aryl (ar), alkyl(al)]; Inorganic (I) = elemental and other inorganic compounds.

For more information about these contaminants, please read Air Quality Technical Report 13.

Appendix 4: Basis for the guideline values for the new air contaminants

Contaminant Guideline values (µg/m3) Implied risk (per 106) Levels for risk of 1 in 106 (µg/m3) Ambient levels (annual average, or as specified)
Ambient
(annual average)
Basis
Benzene 10 (now)
3.6 (2010)
EC (now)
UK (long-term goal)
44-75 (WHO)
16 (WHO)
0.13-0.23 ~ 7 (urban)
20+ (traffic)
1,3-Butadiene 2.4 UK 17-72 (RIVM)
670 (US EPA)
0.03-0.14
0.0036
~ 1 (24-hour)
Formaldehyde 15 WHO (health) converted 196 (US EPA) 0.077 12 (17-day)
~ 30 (1-hour)
Acetaldehyde 30 WHO (health) converted 450-2700 (WHO)
66 (US EPA)
0.001-0.067
0.45
No NZ data
US ~ (2-4)
Benzo(a)pyrene 0.0003 Risk of 2-3 in 105 assumed acceptable 26 (US EPA) 0.00001 7-72 (24-hour)
Mercury (organic) 0.13 TWA/100 - - No urban data
Mercury (inorganic) 0.33 TWA/100 - - < 50 (7-day)
Chromium (VI) 0.0011 Assume risk of 1 in 105 is acceptable (between WHO and US EPA) 12-140 (WHO) 0.000007-0.00009 No NZ data
Chromium
(metal and III)
0.11 100 x Cr (VI) 1.3 (US EPA) 0.00083
Arsenic (inorganic) 0.0055 Risk of 1 in 105 assumed acceptable (between WHO and US EPA) 8.3 (WHO) 0.00067 No NZ data
Arsine 0.055 RfC (US EPA) 24 (US EPA) 0.00023

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