Environment Canterbury has monitored general outdoor air quality (also known as “ambient” air quality) at a number of urban areas in Canterbury, in particular in seven airsheds since 2005: Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Ashburton, Geraldine, Timaru and Waimate. The results of this monitoring are summarised on this page.
Canterbury generally has good air quality throughout most of the year. However high concentrations of contaminants can occur on calm winter nights when dispersion is restricted. The main contaminant of concern in Canterbury towns is particulate matter. Wood burning for home heating is the main source during the winter months.
Ambient air quality can be assessed by comparing concentrations of five contaminants to National Environmental Standards (NES) and National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (NAAQG), as shown in the table below (NES are displayed in bold).
NES and regional ambient air quality targets
g = milligrams, i.e. grams/103 µg = micrograms, i.e. grams/106
| Contaminant |
Averaging Period |
NES permissible excess in a 12 month period |
Regional Ambient Air Quality Targets (RAAQT) – Upper Thresholds |
| NES, NAAQG or Alert |
66 % of NAAQG or Acceptable |
33 % of NAAQG or Good |
10 % of NAAQG or Excellent |
| Particulate matter (10µm) |
PM10 |
24-hour |
1
|
50 µg/m3
|
33 µg/m3
|
17 µg/m3
|
No target set |
| Particulate matter (10µm) |
PM10 |
Annual |
|
20 µg/m3
|
13 µg/m3
|
7 µg/m3
|
No target set |
| Carbon monoxide |
CO |
1-hour |
|
30 mg/m3
|
20 mg/m3
|
10 mg/m3
|
3 mg/m3
|
| Carbon monoxide |
CO |
Running 8-hour |
1
|
10 mg/m3
|
7 mg/m3
|
3 mg/m3
|
1 mg/m3
|
| Sulphur dioxide |
SO2 |
1-hour |
9
|
350 µg/m3
|
230 µg/m3
|
115 µg/m3
|
35 µg/m3
|
| Sulphur dioxide |
SO2 |
1-hour |
0
|
570 µg/m3
|
|
|
|
| Sulphur dioxide |
SO2 |
24-hour |
|
120 µg/m3
|
80 µg/m3
|
40 µg/m3
|
12 µg/m3
|
| Nitrogen dioxide |
NO2 |
1-hour |
9
|
200 µg/m3
|
132 µg/m3
|
66 µg/m3
|
20 µg/m3
|
| Nitrogen dioxide |
NO2 |
24-hour |
|
100 µg/m3
|
66 µg/m3
|
33 µg/m3
|
10 µg/m3
|
| Ozone |
O3 |
1-hour |
0
|
150 µg/m3
|
100 µg/m3
|
50 µg/m3
|
15 µg/m3
|
| Ozone |
O3 |
8-hour |
|
100 µg/m3
|
66 µg/m3
|
33 µg/m3
|
10 µg/m3
|
As well as the impact of general air quality, properties may be affected by localised sources that cause a nuisance. These may be a nearby industry, busy road, neighbouring chimney, rural burning, odour or spray drift.
Christchurch
In Christchurch, air quality is likely to be better than average on the hills and on the northwest edge of the city where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly.
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Christchurch has been carried out continuously since 1988. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO, SO2 and NO2. Exceedences of health guidelines for PM10 have reduced and in the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 12 and 18 days each year. The NES target is only one day by 2020. The maximum concentrations measured at Christchurch’s monitoring site in St Albans in the last six years (to 2010) are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Christchurch St Albans
# = Incomplete data, maximum may have been missed - = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
100 µg/m3 |
200 µg/m3 |
| |
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 24- hr NO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1- hr NO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
12
|
 91
|
 18
|
 6
|
 8
|
 11
|
41
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
13
|
85
|
18
|
10
|
12
|
9
|
27
|
34
|
84
|
| 2008 |
18
|
87
|
18
|
8
|
10
|
9
|
52
|
#
|
#
|
| 2007 |
14
|
120
|
18
|
6
|
8
|
14
|
28
|
42
|
81
|
| 2006 |
27
|
184
|
21
|
11
|
14
|
19
|
62
|
42
|
82
|
| 2005 |
32
|
147
|
20
|
8
|
10
|
14
|
37
|
37
|
77
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Kaiapoi
In Kaiapoi, air quality is likely to be better than average on the northwest edge of the town where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly.
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Kaiapoi has been carried out continuously in Peraki St since 2001. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO and SO2. In the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 19 and 24 days when health guidelines for PM10 were exceeded. The NES target is only one day by 2020. The maximum concentrations measured in the last six years (to 2010) are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Kaiapoi
- = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
|
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
23
|
98
|
24
|
6
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
24
|
86
|
21
|
5
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
| 2008 |
19
|
86
|
22
|
4
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
| 2007 |
20
|
104
|
19
|
5
|
6
|
3
|
16
|
| 2006 |
28
|
161
|
22
|
6
|
10
|
5
|
11
|
| 2005 |
17
|
152
|
22
|
6
|
7
|
4
|
25
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Rangiora
In Rangiora, air quality is likely to be better than average on the northwest edge of the town where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly.
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Rangiora has been carried out continuously in Percival St since 2004. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO and SO2. In the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 4 and 13 days when health guidelines for PM10 were exceeded. The NES target is only one day by 2016. The maximum concentrations measured in the last six years (to 2010) are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Rangiora
- = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
|
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
13
|
91
|
18
|
4
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
3
|
88
|
18
|
2
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
| 2008 |
6
|
61
|
21
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
| 2007 |
4
|
107
|
20
|
4
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
| 2006 |
15
|
138
|
20
|
5
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
| 2005 |
9
|
99
|
19
|
3
|
8
|
4
|
16
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Ashburton
In Ashburton, air quality is likely to be better than average on the northwest edge of the town where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly.
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Ashburton has been carried out continuously in Cambridge St since 2005. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO and SO2. In the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 9 and 15 days when health guidelines for PM10 were exceeded. The NES target is only one day by 2020. The maximum concentrations measured in the last six years (to 2010) are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Ashburton
# = Incomplete data, maximum may have been missed - = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
|
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
11
|
79
|
21
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
9
|
128
|
22
|
2
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
| 2008 |
15
|
90
|
22
|
4
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
| 2007 |
13
|
90
|
19
|
4
|
10
|
4
|
22
|
| 2006 |
26
|
136
|
23
|
#
|
#
|
7
|
26
|
| 2005 |
18
|
89
|
23
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
20
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Geraldine
In Geraldine, air quality is likely to be better than average on the northwest edge of the town where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly.
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Geraldine has been carried out continuously in Huffey St since 2007. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO and SO2. In the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 2 and 8 days when health guidelines for PM10 were exceeded. The NES target is only one day by 2016. The maximum concentrations measured in these years are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Geraldine
- = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
|
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
4
|
58
|
22
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
8
|
94
|
22
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
| 2008 |
6
|
72
|
21
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
12
|
| 2007 |
2
|
55
|
19
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
15
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Waimate
In Waimate, air quality is likely to be better than average on the northwest edge of the town where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly.
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Waimate has been carried out continuously in Michael St since 2006. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO and SO2. In the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 0 and 10 days when health guidelines for PM10 were exceeded. The NES target is only one day by 2016. The maximum concentrations measured in the last five years (to 2010) are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Waimate
# = Incomplete data, maximum may have been missed - = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
|
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
9
|
97
|
20
|
3
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
10
|
112
|
20
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
| 2008 |
7
|
59
|
#
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
| 2007 |
0
|
50
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
10
|
| 2006 |
10
|
95
|
#
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
8
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Timaru
In Timaru, air quality is likely to be better than average in elevated areas and on the northwest edge of the town where fresher air is upwind on a typical high air pollution night. It is likely to be worse than average in valleys and in any area where there is a high density of open fires that are used regularly
Monitoring of ambient air quality in Timaru was carried out continuously in Grey Road between 1997 and 2005 and in Anzac Park since 2006. Contaminants measured are PM10, CO and SO2. In the last four years (to 2010) there have been between 36 and 49 days when health guidelines for PM10 were exceeded. The NES target is only one day by 2020. The maximum concentrations measured in the last six years (to 2010) are detailed in the table, along with the relevant guideline values.
Timaru
- = Not measured
| Guideline |
|
50 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 |
10 mg/m3 |
30 mg/m3 |
120 µg/m3 |
350 µg/m3 |
100 µg/m3 |
200 µg/m3 |
|
Days PM10 >50 |
Max 24-hr PM10 µg/m3 |
Annual PM10 µg/m3 |
Max 8-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 1-hr CO mg/m3 |
Max 24-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1-hr SO2 µg/m3 |
Max 24- hr NO2 µg/m3 |
Max 1- hr NO2 µg/m3 |
| 2010 |
49
|
148
|
36
|
5
|
7
|
11
|
46
|
-
|
-
|
| 2009 |
38
|
134
|
29
|
5
|
6
|
11
|
63
|
-
|
-
|
| 2008 |
37
|
109
|
28
|
4
|
5
|
14
|
67
|
-
|
-
|
| 2007 |
36
|
128
|
23
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
55
|
-
|
-
|
| 2006 |
36
|
190
|
26
|
4
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2005 |
46
|
109
|
27
|
5
|
8
|
12
|
60
|
33
|
60
|
Colours indicate how maxima relate to regional ambient air quality targets:
- Action
> 100 %
- Alert
66 % - 100 %
- Acceptable
33 % - 66 %
- Good
10 % - 33 %
- Excellent
< 10 %
Other areas
Other urban areas in Canterbury may also have ambient air quality problems, but this is unlikely based on the monitoring that has been carried out in Canterbury to date. Ambient air quality is expected to improve over time with changes to home heating methods.