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Managing our Environment

Air quality and health 

 

The World Health Organization reduced acceptable limits for PM10 and PM2.5 when it updated their air quality guidelines in 2021. This reflects global research showing that particulate matter is more harmful at lower concentrations than previously thought. The Health and Air Pollution New Zealand (HAPINZ) update in 2022 provides detailed aspects of the health and social costs of air pollution in New Zealand. 

In Otago, the ORC worked with the Southern District Health Board (SDHB) in 2007 to show that in areas with more high pollution days for PM10. The SDHB recently refined this work in 2022 to show that higher PM10 concentrations increased the risk of acute respiratory infections, highlighting the risk of even short-term exposure to particulate matter. Areas with more wood burners have a higher risk. 

You can read more about particulate matter on the Ministry for the Environment website and see the modelled impact on health in New Zealand by district. 

 

Further information 

2021 Southern District Health Board study on link between woodsmoke and acute respiratory infections (Free login required to access)

2007 Southern District Health Board study on hospital admission rates 

World Health Organization factsheet on air pollution 

 

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