Invercargill records first two air quality exceedances for 2024

Invercargill has recorded its first two exceedances of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality just days apart.

On Sunday, 14 July, the Pomona Street monitoring site recorded a 24-hour average PM10 concentration of 51.6 micrograms/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air), over the standards’ threshold of 50 micrograms/m3. The following day there was a second exceedance of 50.7 micrograms/m3.

Environment Southland team leader air and terrestrial science Nick Talbot said readings for Invercargill had been within the threshold values during May and June.

However, the recent frosty nights and still days have seen air pollution rise day-by-day. Notably, hourly data showed pollution levels rose quickly after 5pm, and remained high until midnight.

“With the onset of frosty nights, the smell of smoke is quite notable. The smell is from tiny particulates in the air; these can easily penetrate into the lungs, placing stress on people's health, especially for those who are more susceptible to health complications, such as children, the elderly and others with respiratory conditions,” he said.

“Remember, outdoor smoke easily makes its way into other people's houses, so the way you burn affects your neighbours and neighbourhood.”

We encourage everybody to keep warm when temperatures drop. The best tip to reduce smoke impact and get the most value for your wood is to keep fires burning hot and bright, burn dry wood, don’t bank your fire overnight and make sure the flue is clean and burner well maintained.

The Regional Air Plan includes rules to help improve air quality. Non-compliant burners are being progressively phased out. As of January 2022, any burner in Invercargill and Gore that was installed before 1 January 2001 must now be replaced by a compliant burner.

Environment Southland operates a Good Wood approved suppliers’ scheme which firewood retailers voluntarily agree to be part of. For a list of suppliers and for more information on what else you can do to improve air quality, go to www.BreatheEasySouthland.co.nz.