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Environmental management > Air > Air quality monitoring

Regional trends

EPA monitors air quality in south-east Queensland and the regional centres of Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville and Mount Isa. Factors which influence air pollution in south-east Queensland include increasing population, concentration of motor vehicles and industrial activity, while in Gladstone and Mount Isa, industrial activity is the major cause of air pollution.

Two of the primary indices used to measure air quality are the Air Quality Index – human health and the Air Quality Index – amenity.[Note]

Air Quality (Human Health)

South-east Queensland, Gladstone,Mackay, Townsville and Mount Isa Air Quality Index (human health) 1999 to 2009

NOTES:  
Poor Number of days when at least one NEPM monitoring station did not meet one or more NEPM air quality standards, reflecting high pollution levels.
Fair Number of days when all NEPM monitoring stations were within the NEPM standards but at least one station reached at least half the standard for one or more pollutants.
Good Number of days when all NEPM monitoring stations were below half the NEPM air quality standards, reflecting good air quality.
Standards: 0.10 ppm ozone (1-hour average)
0.12 ppm nitrogen dioxide (1-hour average)
0.20 ppm sulfur dioxide (1-hour average)
9.0 ppm carbon monoxide (8-hour average)
50 µg/m3 PM10 (24-hour average)

Air Quality (Amenity)

South-east Queensland, Gladstone and Mackay Air Quality Index (amenity) 1999 to 2009.

NOTES:  
Poor Number of days when at least one NEPM monitoring station did not meet the EPP (Air) air quality goal, reflecting poor visual amenity.
Fair Number of days when all NEPM monitoring stations were within the EPP (Air) goal but at least one station reached at least half the goal.
Good Number of days when all NEPM monitoring stations were below half the EPP (Air) goal, reflecting good visual amenity.
Standard:

Visibility equal to or exceeding 20km (1-hour average)

 

Note
Assessment of air quality is performed by comparison of pollutant concentrations against the air quality goals set within the Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997 (EPP(Air)) and the air quality standards set within the National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality (Air NEPM). These goals and standards generally fall into two broad categories – those developed to protect human health (Air Quality Index – human health) and those based on aesthetic criteria such as visibility loss or odour (Air Quality Index – amenity). The two indices summarise air quality relative to human health protection and visual amenity.

Last updated: 11 May 2009