- Friday 30 July 2010
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Air pollution limit breached as Masterton residents keep warm
Fog dispersing over Lansdowne, Masterton, on Wednesday morning. Photo: Gerald Ford
A pollution limit was breached in the Masterton air last week, but so far this year has been milder than last, says an air-quality monitor.
On Friday at midnight a gauge in the town registered an average of 54.8mcg an hour of fine
particles to a cubic metre of air - above the national standard of 50mcg.
Last year, Masterton broke the limit three times - it must notify the public if it happens more than once - and had several readings in the 40s.
The fine particles measured are hazardous because they become lodged in people's lungs.
Measurements are calculated over the course of a day and, according Ted Taylor, of Greater Wellington, it is the "cold, crisp, still evenings" that cause the smoky air to hang about.
"We need two evenings like that in a row to push it over the top."
Mr Taylor said this winter, while cold which has meant the burning of plenty of firewood, has also been wet and windy which drives the smoke away.
"But it's early days yet."
Masterton was on a hit list of 11 towns and cities that Environment Minister Nick Smith has said are not expected to meet national air quality standards by the current deadline of 2013, and there may be an extension to 2020.
Without that extension, those few businesses inside Masterton licensed to discharge to the air may find themselves penalised - unable to renew their consents to operate - because of a
problem largely caused by home fires.
The main source of the fine particles came from home heating - 94 percent - followed by outdoor fires - 4 percent, and vehicles - 2 percent.
A Greater Wellington Regional Council survey showed Masterton people often use more than one method to heat their main living areas, with 66 percent using woodburners, 32 percent electricity and 18 percent gas.
According to GWRC data, air pollution in Masterton is highest to the west, including west of Ngaumutawa Road, followed by Masterton east, then Lansdowne and the northern half of the Solway area.
