Dunedin was the only urban centre in Otago to meet air
quality standards this year, thanks to cleaner-burning
businesses and a lack of frosts. Photo by Dan Hutchinson.
Dunedin was the only urban centre in Otago to meet
national air quality standards this year.
Otago Regional Council director of environmental science and
information John Threlfall has released results of winter
monitoring that show a big improvement for Dunedin.
The city only exceeded the limit of 50mcg per cubic metre of
air once, on July 10 (71mcg).
Mr Threlfall said the good results for Dunedin were due to a
combination of things.
He said improvements had been made to industrial emissions in
the city, solid-fuel burners were being replaced with cleaner
heating appliances, the construction of the Forsyth Barr
Stadium was complete and there was a relatively frost-free
winter.
July was by far the worst month for air quality in Dunedin.
On July 10, air pollution peaked at 337mcg between 4am and
5am, contributing to the high reading for that day.
Towns are only allowed to exceed the standard once in a
12-month period to meet National Environmental Standards for
air quality.
Mosgiel was not recorded in results this year because its
measuring equipment was malfunctioning and the results were
not considered reliable enough.
AIR QUALITY
Number of days when air quality did not meet
standard:
Dunedin ... 1
Alexandra ... 40
Arrowtown ... 24
Balclutha ... 13
Clyde ... 9
Cromwell ... 30
Lawrence ... 2
Milton ... 38
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