Regional and unitary council monitoring data reveals New
Zealand's air quality has improved since the introduction of
the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality in
2005. However, an update to the LAWA Air Quality topic to
also compare particulate matter concentrations in towns and
cities across the country against the new World Health
Organization (WHO) guidelines shows there is potential to
reduce health risks more by further combatting air
pollution.
Dr Jonathan Caldwell, an Air Quality
Scientist involved in the LAWA project and Senior
Environmental Chemist at Waikato Regional Council, explained
the importance of monitoring air quality to identify
potential health and environmental risks, and direct efforts
to the places that need the most
intervention.
“Breathing polluted air, particularly
smoke from fuel burning, can lead to respiratory illness,
high blood pressure, and even premature death. When breathed
in, particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter, referred
to as PM10, can deposit in the upper airways and cause
irritation. Smaller particles less than 2.5 micrometres
(PM2.5) can lodge deep into our lungs and reach the
bloodstream.
“Air quality in New Zealand is
generally showing an improving trend where there is
sufficient data from regional and unitary council monitoring
available.
“The LAWA Air Quality National Picture
Summary 2023 published today reveals 12 out of 53 monitored
sites did not meet the New Zealand National Environmental
Standard for daily average PM10 concentrations last year.
PM2.5 was monitored at 31 sites, with only two sites meeting
the new daily and annual average non-regulatory WHO
guidelines in 2022,” said Dr Caldwell.
In New
Zealand, home wood burners are the primary source of air
pollution in most towns during winter. Smoke levels are
affected by what is burned and the weather conditions and
geography of the surrounding landscape. Other sources
include vehicle emissions, outdoor burning, industry, dust,
and sea spray.
From today, people can explore air
quality results from their regional or unitary council
monitoring programme reported against New Zealand’s
National Environmental Standards and the new WHO guidelines
on the LAWA website: www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/air-quality.
Councils proactively make this data available to their
communities to help inform decisions that can improve air
quality.
“The LAWA interactive air quality map has
been updated to show results against the new WHO guidelines
that set lower thresholds for air pollution levels that can
affect our health.
“People may be surprised to see
that when air quality is assessed using these new
guidelines, it can appear that the air in their town is
worse compared to the previous guidelines, however it's
important to keep in mind that this doesn't necessarily mean
an increase in pollution. Rather, the guidelines have
changed to reflect our improved understanding of the health
effects from breathing polluted air.
“We now know
that even lower levels of pollutants, can have adverse
effects on our health and well-being and these findings
emphasise the need for collective efforts and research to
better understand air pollution and ways of further reducing
it across the country,” said Dr Caldwell.
For
example, the recent Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand
study found that nitrogen dioxide from motor vehicles
accounts for over half the health and social costs
associated with air pollution.
The LAWA website's air
quality topic serves as a valuable resource for New
Zealanders to learn more about air pollution in their region
and its significance. Visitors to the website can access
real-time air quality data, educational resources, and tips
on how they can contribute to improving air
quality.
LAWA Chair Dr Tim Davie recognised the good
work of communities alongside regional and unitary councils
to improve air quality and said together we can keep moving
in the right direction.
“By reporting air quality
against the new WHO guidelines, we are acknowledging the
importance of an ongoing focus on environmental public
health. The LAWA Air Quality topic now helps us to have a
clearer picture of the potential risks associated with air
pollution, even at lower levels.
“Ultimately, the
aim of the LAWA project partners in making this change is to
ensure that we are aware of the potential health impacts and
continue to inform work towards reducing air pollution to
safeguard the well-being of individuals and communities,”
said Dr Davie.
Dr Davie encourages New Zealanders to
be mindful of how actions that create smoke (such as
lighting a wood fire, outdoor burning, and vehicle
emissions) impact the quality of the air that we all breathe
and make healthier swaps where
possible.
