This review of international best practice in the design of a background air quality monitoring station found that:
- Background stations can be used for assessing compliance with stipulated criteria or standards but are more often used to inform the potential contribution from long range transport of pollutants, and to support source apportionment analysis and air quality management. They can also be used to determine the influence of other sources on natural events when assessing criteria achievement.
- There are several points of consistency on the definition of a background station, including: homogeneous land use and geographies; distance from large pollutant sources; and scales of up to 100's of kilometres. Population density is not specifically mentioned as a factor in relation to background monitoring.
- When siting a background station, a hierarchical approach is likely to be the most successful, with the determination of the purpose of background monitoring being the key consideration. Site selection considerations, including macro and micro scale criteria, may be secondary to defining the purpose of monitoring.
The report may be used to inform a benchmark or guidance for international best practice in the siting and design of a background station. The review will be used by New South Wales in conjunction with other studies and considerations, as due diligence for the scope, design, siting and performance of background air quality monitoring stations in New South Wales.
