Air toxics

Knowledge of the health effects of air toxics is incomplete, but studies in Europe and North America show that very small amounts of air toxics may present a risk to human health and the environment.

Results of NSW Government monitoring indicate that levels of air toxics in the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong areas are generally low in comparison to comparable cities in Europe and North America.

Ambient Air Quality Research Project (1996–2001)

With international concern turning to air toxics, which may be affecting human health and the environment through low level exposure over the long term, the NSW Government provided $1.4 million for an investigation into concentrations of these pollutants in the air in New South Wales.

The study ran for 5½ years, from early 1996 to August 2001. It involved sampling and analysis of the level of air toxins in ambient air within the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region and a number of regional centres. Air toxins sampled included dioxins, 41 organic compounds, 11 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and 12 heavy metals. In total, the concentrations of over 80 substances were measured, with more than 1,400 samples collected at a total of 25 sites.

A summary report and 4 internal working papers are available on this research project:

• Dioxins, Organics, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals (Summary Report)
• Ambient Concentrations of Dioxins in NSW (Internal Working Paper No. 1): explains why ambient dioxin levels at sites in New South Wales are well below overseas standards:
  • Executive summary, preliminary material, report
  • Appendices
• Ambient Concentrations of Toxic Organic Compounds in NSW (Internal Working Paper No. 2): presents the measurement results and a statistical analysis of the concentrations of 41 organic air toxic compounds in ambient air at 5 representative sites over several years.
• Ambient Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Species in NSW (Internal Working Paper No 3)
• Ambient Concentrations of Heavy Metals in NSW (Internal Working Paper No 4): explains why heavy metal levels at sites in New South Wales are well below international standards.