Expand View Figure 51 Clockwise from top left: AIRBOX deployed on Garden Island, Western Australia; AIRBOX on board the RSV Aurora Australis next to the tower and weather radar ‘ball’; AIRBOX on top of the RSV Aurora Australis at Newcomb Bay, Casey Station, Antarctica Photos: Robyn Schofield and Alan Griffiths For more information, go toResearch and new technologies Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 51 Clockwise from top left: AIRBOX deployed on Garden Island, Western Australia; AIRBOX on board the RSV Aurora Australis next to the tower and weather radar ‘ball’; AIRBOX on top of the RSV Aurora Australis at Newcomb Bay, Casey Station, Antarctica
Expand View Figure 52 PM readings from the Latrobe Valley network of sensors, 10:00 am, 11 December 2020 hrs = hours; µg/m3 = microgram per cubic metre; PM2.5 = fine particulate matter; PM10 = coarse particulate matter Source: Latrobe Valley Information Network and Attentis For more information, go toResearch and new technologies Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 52 PM readings from the Latrobe Valley network of sensors, 10:00 am, 11 December 2020
Expand View Figure 53 Schools Weather and Air Quality data portal, showing the Air Quality Index measured at 7 schools in the Sydney region, 11 December 2020 Source: Schools Weather and Air Quality For more information, go toResearch and new technologies Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 53 Schools Weather and Air Quality data portal, showing the Air Quality Index measured at 7 schools in the Sydney region, 11 December 2020
Expand View Figure 54 Two smoke observation gadgets deployed in regional Victoria, showing the red ‘on’ light and the green lights indicating low particle concentrations at the time of the photograph Photo: Jacinta Cooper For more information, go toResearch and new technologies Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 54 Two smoke observation gadgets deployed in regional Victoria, showing the red ‘on’ light and the green lights indicating low particle concentrations at the time of the photograph
Year Month Jurisdiction Air quality event Pollutant involved 2016 January Tas Bushfires in north-west Tasmania burn 91,983 haa,b Smoke 2016 January WA Bushfire at Yarloop burns 67,871 haa,b Smoke 2016 November Vic Thunderstorm asthma kills 10 peoplec Pollen 2018 August Vic 20,000 m2 factory fire occurs on site storing waste at West Footscrayd Smoke 2019 Summer Tas Bushfires west of Huon Valley burn 170,988 haa,b Smoke 2019 April Vic Large factory fire occurs on site storing waste at Campbellfielde Smoke 2019 November NSW Dustiest month since records began in 2005f Dust 2019–20 Summer South-east Australia Bushfires burn 5,567,402 haa,b, contributing to 417 excess deathsg Smoke, accompanied by smog 2020 March–April Australia COVID-19 pandemic Varies by jurisdiction 2020 May WA Cyclone Mangga produces 100 km/h winds and very high levels of PM10 in Geraldton Dust ha = hectare; km/h = kilometre per hour; m2 = square metre; NSW = New South Wales; PM10 = coarse particulate matter; Tas = Tasmania; Vic = Victoria; WA = Western Australia Sources: a MODIS MCD64A1 Collection 6 Burned Area product; b Giglio et al. (2018); c DHHS (2017); d IGEM (2020); e Personal communication, EPA Victoria; f Community DustWatch (2019); g Borchers Arriagada et al. (2020) For more information, go toOutlook and impacts Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Type of pollutant Pollutant Major sources Primary pollutants Carbon monoxide Combustion, including biomass (vegetation) burning in domestic wood heaters, prescribed burns and bushfires, motor vehicles and metal manufacturing Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO), together termed NOx Combination of nitrogen and oxygen during high-temperature combustion of fossil fuels Motor vehicle exhaust (responsible for about 80% of urban NO2) Electricity generation in fossil-fuelled power stations, petrol and metal refining, food processing and other manufacturing industries NOx naturally emitted from lightning activity and from microbial action in soils Sulfur dioxide Electricity generation in coal-fired power stations; metal smelting of sulfurous ores, including lead, copper, zinc, aluminium and iron Coarse particulate matter (PM10) Burning in domestic wood heaters, prescribed burns and bushfires; mining; other land uses; and road dust Sea salt and windblown dust Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Combustion Chemical processes – can form in the atmosphere during chemical reactions, such as those involving secondary nitrates and sulfates, and secondary organic aerosols Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Industrial applications involving paints, solvents and evaporative fuels Naturally occurring VOCs emitted from vegetation Cleaning and personal hygiene products Secondary pollutants Ozone Atmospheric photochemical reactions of primary pollutants, NOx and VOCs from motor vehicles, industry and natural sources Naturally occurring background ozone and stratospheric intrusions Hazardous substances Lead Road dust, metal manufacturing and metal ore mining Mercury Mining, metal processing industries and power stations Soil and vegetation, biomass burning and geological sources Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) POPs in pesticides and industrial chemicals, and produced as a byproduct of industrial processes PAHs generated during the incomplete combustion of organic materials Allergens Pollen, fungal spores Plants and fungi For more information, go toAir pollution types and sources Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Pollutant Averaging period Maximum concentration (NEPM variationa) Maximum allowable exceedances (goal) Carbon monoxide 8 hours 9.0 ppm 1 day per year Lead 1 year 0.50 μg/m3 None Nitrogen dioxide 1 hour 1 year 0.12 ppm (0.09 ppma) 0.03 ppm (0.019 ppma) 1 day per year None PM10 1 day 1 year 50 μg/m3 25 μg/m3 Noneb PM2.5 1 day 1 year 25 μg/m3 8 μg/m3 Noneb (2025: 20 μg/m3) (7 μg/m3 2025 goal) Ozone 1 hour 4 hours 8 hoursa 0.10 ppm 0.08 ppm (0.065 ppma) 1 day per year 1 day per year (Nonea) Sulfur dioxide 1 hour 1 day 1 year 0.20 ppm (0.10 ppma) 0.08 ppm (0.02 ppma) 0.02 ppm 1 day per year (2025: 0.075 ppma) 1 day per year None μg/m3 = microgram per cubic metre; NEPM = National Environment Protection Measure; PM2.5 = fine particulate matter; PM10 = coarse particulate matter; ppm = parts per million New NEPM standards for ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide were ratified in April 2021. There are allowable exceedances for particulate matter for exceptional events under Clause 18 of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM: ‘fire or dust occurrence that adversely affects air quality at a particular location and causes an exceedance of 1-day average standards in excess of normal historical fluctuations and background levels, and is directly related to: bushfire; jurisdiction authorised hazard reduction burning; or continental scale windblown dust’. For more information, go toNational and international agreements and policy Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Pollutant Measurement technique Carbon monoxide Infrared spectrometry Ozone Ultraviolet spectroscopy Nitrogen dioxide Chemiluminescence Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Beta attenuation monitor Coarse particulate matter (PM10) Tapered element oscillating microbalance Sulfur dioxide Pulsed fluorescent spectrophotometry For more information, go toNational and international agreements and policy Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Priority areas Actions Status Standards Vary the Ambient Air Quality NEPM to strengthen particle reporting standards Complete Review the Ambient Air Quality NEPM for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone towards strengthening the standards Complete Review the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 Complete Review Air Toxics and Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPMs Ongoing Emissions reduction measures Reduce emissions from nonroad spark-ignition engines and equipment (decision RIS completed 2015) Complete Reduce emissions from wood heaters Ongoing Manage nonroad diesel engine and marine engine emissions Ongoing Partnerships and cooperation Explore partnerships with nongovernment stakeholders to positively influence air quality outcomes Ongoing Improve exchange of information and experiences in implementing air quality management and monitoring tools across jurisdictions Complete Better knowledge, education and awareness Improve access to reliable air quality information for researchers, policy-makers and the community: National Air Quality Data Service National Environmental Science Program Clean Air and Urban Landscapes hub Complete Undertake National Pollutant Inventory reforms Ongoing Priority setting Establish and implement a priority-setting process and work plan Complete NEPM = National Environment Protection Measure; RIS = regulation impact statement For more information, go toNational and international agreements and policy Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Priority areas Actions Standards Review latest scientific evidence of health impacts in relation to annual average PM10 standards in the Ambient Air Quality NEPM Complete review of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM standards for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone Review legislative instruments made under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 Reduce emissions from nonroad spark-ignition engines and equipment (decision RIS completed 2015) Review the need for the Air Toxics and Diesel Vehicle Emissions NEPMs Emissions reduction measures Reduce emissions from wood heaters Manage nonroad diesel engine emissions Partnerships and cooperation Engage and explore opportunities with nongovernment stakeholders to positively influence air quality outcomes Better knowledge, education and awareness Improve access to reliable air quality information for researchers, policy-makers and the community Undertake National Pollutant Inventory reforms NEPM = National Environment Protection Measure; PM10 = coarse particulate matter; RIS = regulation impact statement For more information, go toNational and international agreements and policy Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link