High concentrations of the major air pollutants are associated with respiratory problems such as coughs, bronchitis, asthma and, in severe cases, developmental problems in children, and even death.
The National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air (Air NEPM) sets national standards for the six key air pollutants to which most Australians are exposed: carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead and particles.
Standards refer to maximum concentrations of the pollutants set by Air NEPM. Goals refer to allowable exceedances of these maximum concentrations during a year. Find out what these goals and standards are in the table below.
|
Standards/goals for AQI |
|||
|
Pollutant |
Averaging period |
Maximum concentration or standard |
Goal (maximum allowable exceedences) |
|
Carbon monoxide |
8 hours |
9.0 ppm |
1 day a year |
|
Nitrogen dioxide |
1 hour 1 year |
0.12 ppm 0.03 ppm |
1 day a year none |
|
Ozone |
1 hour |
0.10 ppm |
1 day a year 1 day a year |
|
Sulfur dioxide |
1 hour 1 day 1 year |
0.20 ppm 0.08 ppm 0.02 ppm |
1 day a year 1 day a year None |
|
PM10 |
1 day 1 year |
50 µg/m3 25 µg/m3 |
None None |
|
PM2.5 |
1 day 1 year |
25 µg/m3 8 µg/m3 |
None None |
|
Visibility (as bsp) |
1 hour |
2.1 x 10-4 m-1 (210 Mm-1) |
Not applicable |
Notes
| ppm |
= | parts per million by volume (that is, parts of pollutant per million parts of air) |
| PM10 |
= | particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter |
| PM2.5 |
= | particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter |
| µg/m3 |
= | micrograms per cubic metre |
| bsp |
= | back scattering potential, which represents the coefficient of light scattering due to particles. The lower the bsp value, the lower the level of suspended particles and the better the visibility. The NSW OEH standard of 2.1 x 10-4 m-1 or 210 Mm-1 (inverse megametres) corresponds to a visual distance of approximately 9 kilometres. |