These Topics are for the Ambient air quality section of the Atmosphere theme.

Topics for Climate

Ambient air quality

National air quality standards

The NEPC established national ambient air quality standards in 1998 as part of the National Environment Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality (Air NEPM).
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Ambient air quality

Air quality index

In a number of states, the agency responsible for monitoring air quality reports results at each station in its network in terms of an air quality index (AQI; Box ATM9) for all or some of the pollutants covered b
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Ambient air quality

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is not discussed in SoE 2016, because there has been little change since the 2011 report. Please refer to SoE 2011 for information on carbon monoxide.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Ambient air quality

Lead

Lead levels have declined since the early 1990s, because of the ban on lead in petrol for motor vehicles. Although isolated hotspots of lead concentrations still exist in locations where lead smelting is undertaken, some of these are also decreasing.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
South Australian Gulf
Ambient air quality

Nitrogen dioxide

The major source of nitrogen dioxide in Australia is burning of the fossil fuels coal, oil and gas. In cities, the predominant source is on-road vehicle emissions. The standards were met at all compliance sites in 2010–14, and have not been exceeded since the early 1990s.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Greater Sydney
Ambient air quality

Coarse particulate matter (PM10)

PM consists of microscopically small solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Greater BrisbaneGreater DarwinGreater HobartGreater AdelaideAustralian Capital TerritoryGreater MelbourneGreater PerthGreater Sydney
Ambient air quality

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

PM2.5 is the finer particulate fraction of PM. PM2.5 particles are smaller, and therefore able to be transported further and persist for longer in the atmosphere than PM10.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Greater BrisbaneGreater DarwinGreater HobartGreater AdelaideAustralian Capital TerritoryEast CoastGreater MelbourneGreater PerthGreater Sydney
Ambient air quality

Ozone

Ozone is a secondary pollutant formed through the interaction of VOCs (see ‘Volatile organic compounds’) and nitrogen oxides (NOx; see ‘Nitrogen dioxide’). The AQI for ozone in all capital cities was deemed ‘good’ from 1999 to 2008, and remained steady during this time.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Greater BrisbaneAustralian Capital TerritoryGreater MelbourneGreater PerthGreater Sydney
Ambient air quality

Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is not discussed in SoE 2016, because there has been little change since SoE 2011. Values in the capital cities are well below the Air NEPM standards.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
South Australian GulfGulf of Carpentaria
Ambient air quality

Volatile organic compounds

VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. Many common household materials and products, such as paints and cleaning products, give off VOCs.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
Ambient air quality

Air toxics

Air toxics are pollutants that are usually present in ambient air in relatively low concentrations, but have characteristics such as toxicity or persistence that make them hazardous to human, plant or animal health.
2016
Relates to
Ambient air quality
State and trends
North East CoastSouth Western PlateauTasmaniaGreater BrisbaneGreater DarwinGreater MelbourneGreater PerthGreater SydneyIndian Ocean
Keywood MD, Emmerson KM, Hibberd MF (2016). Ambient air quality: Topics. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/ambient-air-quality/topics?framework=111, DOI 10.4226/94/58b65c70bc372