Abstract
This paper presents a summary of the key findings of the special issue of Atmosphere on Air Quality in New South Wales and discusses the implications of the work for policy makers and individuals. This special edition presents new air quality research in Australia undertaken by (or in association with) the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes hub, which is funded by the National Environmental Science Program on behalf of the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment and Energy. Air pollution in Australian cities is generally low, with typical concentrations of key pollutants at much lower levels than experienced in comparable cities in many other parts of the world. Australian cities do experience occasional exceedances in ozone and PM2.5 (above air pollution guidelines), as well as extreme pollution events, often as a result of bushfires, dust storms, or heatwaves. Even in the absence of extreme events, natural emissions play a significant role in influencing the Australian urban environment, due to the remoteness from large regional anthropogenic emission sources. By studying air quality in Australia, we can gain a greater understanding of the underlying atmospheric chemistry and health risks in less polluted atmospheric environments, and the health benefits of continued reduction in air pollution. These conditions may be representative of future air quality scenarios for parts of the Northern Hemisphere, as legislation and cleaner technologies reduce anthropogenic air pollution in European, American, and Asian cities. However, in many instances, current legislation regarding emissions in Australia is significantly more lax than in other developed countries, making Australia vulnerable to worsening air pollution in association with future population growth. The need to avoid complacency is highlighted by recent epidemiological research, reporting associations between air pollution and adverse health outcomes even at air pollutant concentrations that are lower than Australia’s national air quality standards. Improving air quality is expected to improve health outcomes at any pollution level, with specific benefits projected for reductions in long-term exposure to average PM2.5 concentrations.
Highlights
Clean Air and Urban Landscapes (CAUL) was established; To provide novel atmospheric composition measurements that can provide a better understanding of the concentrations of ammonia in the urban atmosphere and the impact of smoke from wildfires, hazard reduction burns, and domestic wood-heaters; To finalise and publish the atmospheric composition data from a number of previous measurement campaigns so that these could be used for rigorous testing of the performance of different air quality models over New South Wales
We conclude that the existing air quality monitoring network in New South Wales is likely to be fit for purpose, with respect to representing urban background pollutant concentrations, and that outreach programmes should be undertaken to inform the public of simple steps that can be taken to minimise their exposure
The Australian atmospheric chemistry community had undertaken three relevant measurement campaigns to gather detailed atmospheric composition data, but these data had not been through their final quality assurance procedures that were required before publication
Summary
Clare Paton-Walsh 1,2, * , Peter Rayner 3 , Jack Simmons 1,2 , Sonya L. Fiddes 3,4,5 , Robyn Schofield 3 , Howard Bridgman 6 , Stephanie Beaupark 1,2 , Richard Broome 7 , Scott D. Chambers 1,8 , Lisa Tzu-Chi Chang 9 , Martin Cope 5 , Christine T. Cowie 10,11,12 , Maximilien Desservettaz 1 , Doreena Dominick 1,2 , Kathryn Emmerson 5 , Hugh Forehead 13 , Ian E. Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia. Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2037, Australia. Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia. Received: 26 October 2019; Accepted: 18 November 2019; Published: 4 December 2019
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