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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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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Appendices
May 2002
© Ministry for the Environment