What is it?

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Estimated health effects from exposure to human-made PM10, per 100,000 people, in 2006 and 2016, New Zealand. Taken from EHINZ
Air quality is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is. Monitoring air quality is important because polluted air can be bad for our health and the health of the environment. Air pollution, or particulate matter (PM), can come from a variety of sources, including:
  • Fuel combustion - Burning coal, oil, wood, light fuel oil in domestic fires
  • Transportation
  • Industrial prosses.
  • Dusty roads
  • Soil tiling
  • Quarries
  • Natural source - e.g sea salt, dust, pollens and volcanic ash.

On average, a person inhales 14,000 litres of air everyday or nearly two hot air balloons full of air each year.

Why is it an issue?

Particulate matter (PM) is solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that are small enough to be inhaled. Some PM can be seen with the naked eye (e.g. dust, smog) whilst others can only be seen under an electric microscope (e.g. metals, organic compounds).
PM can be classified as one of two sizes:
  • PM10 - particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less; these can accumulate in the lungs
  • PM2.5 - Particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less; can infiltrate the lungs and pose the greatest risk to health

Air pollution can impact the health of humans in a variety of ways with the elderly, young people and vulnerable groups most at risk of the negative impacts. Common health effects include:
  • Irritation of the eyes, throat and lungs
  • Worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma
  • Cardiac illness
  • Cancer
  • Premature deaths
  • Restricted activity (e.g. sick days, reduced exercise)

Good air quality is also important for ecosystems health. Animals can face similar complications to humans when exposed to pollution. Growth impairment and bioaccumulation can occur in plants, further risking the health of those who later eat them.​

In July 2021, Cromwell was named as one of the worse town in Otago for air pollution. Central Otago's weather conditions can create strong temperature inversions that can trap smoke particles near the ground and possibly lead to poor air quality.
The lower South island's reliance on heating for much of the winter period has meant the majority of premature deaths and hospitalisations associated with PM annually occur in the region.
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Number of days Cromwell's PM10 emissions exceeded 50 µg/m3 between 2008 and 2020. The guideline number of days allowed before non-compliant is 2 days a year. Taken from LAWA
Source of emissions in Cromwell, 2013. Taken from LAWA

Tackling the issue

The Resource Management Act 1991 states that the primary responsibility for managing air quality sits with regional councils (Otago Regional Council, ORC) and unitary authorities (Central Otago District Council, CODC). They are also responsible for regulating and issuing consents for discharges of pollutants to air.

Ways to solve/manage the issue

There are a variety of ways the council can enforce and empower the public to reduce emissions in the region:
  • Regulations on the type of heating appliance in new builds as old, inefficient wood burners and poor wood-burning techniques are the main contributors to poor winter air quality in Otago.
  • Regulations on better-insulated homes (especially in new builds) can greatly reduce the need for heating
  • Regulations on the fuel source and practices
  • Improving public transport and pedestrian & cycling routes
  • Increasing renewable energy is incredibly important as it does not rely on combustion and therefore does not add greenhouse gases and PM emissions to the atmosphere.
  • Reducing and monitoring the burning of land and rubbish in the region
  • Enforcement of better practices in quarries and building sites to reduce dust particles in the air 
  • Improving education on why is it important to reduce personal emissions and how the public can do so.

What has been done

The ORC Regional Air Plan was last updated in 2009 to regulate activities that might affect air quality such as wood burners and construction. This is to be used by any person or business looking to undertake works that will discharge contaminants into the air.

Using feedback and input from the community and key parties (e.g. iwi, southern district health board), the ORC developed the Air Quality Strategy for Otago in 2018. This outlines their approach to achieving good air for humans and the environment in the region.

The ORC and the Ministry of the environment have a list of authorised wood burners list for all new builds and home improvements.​

What will be done

​In 2020, the Government proposed amendments to some provisions of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES). This was to address the banning of more activities that discharge significant quantities of pollution into the air, setting new standards for outdoor air quality, designing a standard for new wood burners in urban areas and gases released from landfills.

​Statement from the ORC on addressing air pollution from their website: 
'Funding pressures and other priorities mean most of our air quality work (except for air quality monitoring and scientific analysis) will be paused from July 2021 to June 2023.
In the past, we’ve addressed air pollution through an air quality programme that included providing subsidies for cleaner heating options. Although emissions from home heating have significantly reduced, we have not met the national standards for air quality.
As a result, we need to rethink our approach, review our policies and rules on air emissions, and implement a new, more effective air quality programme.
From 2023-24, we’ll swing into action to develop and implement an effective air quality programme that focuses on strengthening rules on air emissions, and on working with local communities and partners for better housing and cleaner air.'
References
Graphs images are linked to source
[1] Ministry for the Environment (no date). To view: Click here
​[2] LAWA (no date) Air Quality. To view: Click here
[3] Ministry for the Environment (no date) Why Air Quality Matters. To view: Click here
[4] Ministry for the Environment (no date) National Environmental Standard for Air Quality. To view, Click here
[5] CODC (2020) submission on Proposed amendments to the NESQ. To view, Click here
[6] LAWA (no date) Air Quality - Cromwell. To view, Click here
[7] EHINZ (no date) Health Effects of Air Pollution. To view, Click here
[8] ORC (2009) Regional Plan: Air for Otago. To view, Click here
[9] ORC (2018) Air Quality Strategy for Otago.pdf. To view, Click here
[10] ORC (2018) Air Quality Strategy for Otago. To view, Click here
[11] Ministry for the Environment (no date) Authorised Wood Burners List. To View, Click here
[12] ORC (2021) Our Must-do Projects. To view, Click here
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​Bringing together the needs of the community (Clutha/Mata-Au) and the activity of stakeholders (Kawarau) to achieve a healthy and happy environment for people and wildlife (the junction).