5856_LH - Living Here - MARCH 2017_WEB

PM10 stands for Particulate Matter measuring under 10 microns in
diameter. These particles can deposit in our airways, which can cause
serious health effects. Environment Canterbury monitors for PM10, PM2.5
(the much finer subset of PM10 created from combustion), carbon
monoxide, and in some places sulphur dioxide.
Good stuff:
clearing the air
A
s we head into autumn the issue of how we can keep the air clear
while remaining warm in our homes over winter, raises its head.
We know that home heating is the main cause of winter air
pollution in the areas where air quality is monitored in Canterbury. Environment
Canterbury is tasked with providing the strategies and rules to help the
community to improve air quality so we can all breathe cleaner, healthier air.
What does this mean for the average household? First up, people need to be
able to keep warm during winter. But the community has also said it wants to
have clean air to breath. So to help achieve those goals we’re focusing on helping
people burn better, and upgrade to better burners.
This winter we’ll again be providing advice about how to light a clean-burning, hot
fire. Scientific evidence tells us that poor wood burning technique and inefficient
wood burners are responsible for the majority of winter pollution in our region.
That’s why we are encouraging the use of Energy Star® qualified heat pumps
or modern ultra-low emission burners that emit less smoke than older, more
polluting burners.
The World Health Organisation provides air quality guidelines and, consistent
with this, the Ministry for the Environment has set the National Environment
Standard for Air Quality (NESAQ), which allows for only one high-pollution
day a year from 2020. PM10 levels cannot exceed 50 micrograms per cubic
metre over a 24 hour period. When we exceed this guideline, we record it as a
‘high pollution’ event. Our targets for the number of high pollution days that is
acceptable are very low – and in some areas there is a lot of work to do still to
reach them.
The places we monitor are where pollution is known to be highest. If
concentrations in the worst areas are below the national guidelines then we can
be confident they are below across the town or city. Environment Canterbury’s
role is to help people comply with the rules as soon as possible so we are
collectively helping clear up the air.
There are a range of other heating options depending on your property type,
current burner, where you live etc. There are many variables allowed for in the
Canterbury Air Plan so if you need advice, check out the Environment Canterbury
website to see what applies in your area, or call us.
What’s on in the region
The Mackenzie A&P Highland Show will be held on 17 April at the Mackenzie
A&P Showgrounds, 1 Gillingham Street, Fairlie from 8:00am - 6:00pm.
For home and farm produce, wine and home brew, flowers, art, crafts,
jewellery, sculpture, photography, dog trials, highland dancing, piping and
solo drumming, alpacas, wearable arts, equestrian, sheep, wool, cattle, goats
and poultry and much more. Visit the show’s website for more information
www.mackenzieshow.co.nz.