Air quality in Marlborough is excellent in most areas of the Region. Some activities do result in degraded air quality at times. These tend to be either:
- Localised problems, for example the impact on neighbours of burning rubbish or green waste outdoors.
- Widespread problems such as the build up of air pollution in an urban area.
In Blenheim, urban air quality is degraded on some days during the winter months. The main air pollutant of concern is suspended particles referred to as PM10. These are particles in the air that are less than 10 microns in diameter and are small enough to penetrate the lungs and cause adverse health impacts.
The Ministry for the Environment has set National Environmental Standards (NES) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/user-guide-draft-oct05/index.html for key air contaminants including PM10. The NES specifies that PM10 concentrations in the air can only exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (24-hour average) on one day per year.
Monitoring of PM10 has been carried out in Blenheim since 2000 and measurements show PM10 in excess of 50 micrograms per cubic metre most years. The number of days per year when PM10 concentrations have exceeded this limit range from 8-34. The highest concentration measured was 81 micrograms per cubic metre and was measured during July 2004. Click HERE to find out more about PM10 monitoring in Blenheim.
Results for PM10 monitoring are updated on a monthly basis and can be viewed at http://www.watercare.co.nz/default,419.sm
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