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Ambient air quality monitoring report for the Waikato region - 1998 to 2020

TR 2021/33
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Report: TR 2021/33

Author: Jonathan Caldwell

Abstract

Air quality within towns and cities can be affected by a number of activities including natural causes such as sea spray, pollen and volcanic activity and human created causes such as home heating, traffic and industrial discharges.

Ambient air quality monitoring has been carried out in the Waikato region by Waikato Regional Council since 1998. The US EPA define ambient air monitoring as the systematic, long-term assessment of pollutant levels by measuring the quantity and types of certain pollutants in the surrounding, outdoor air.  

A total of 14 out of 20 gazetted airsheds in the Waikato region have been monitored for PM10 over the period 1998 to 2020 with monitoring of PM2.5 in Tokoroa since 2015. Monitoring of benzene in Hamilton and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Cambridge, Hamilton, Te Awamutu and Taupō has also occurred over this reporting period.

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