New Zealand’s concentrations of air pollutants decrease

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — New Zealand’s concentrations of air pollutants decreased at many air quality monitoring sites between 2016 and 2023, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday.
PM10 trends decreased at 30 out of 41 local government monitoring sites, while trends for PM2.5 decreased at 12 out of 16 sites, Stats NZ said, adding PM10 and PM2.5 are particles that can be suspended in the air and are less than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter, respectively.
PM10 and PM2.5 are primarily formed by residential wood burning, dust from unsealed roads, and industrial and construction activities.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) trends decreased at 99 out of 114 New Zealand Transport Agency monitoring sites between 2014 and 2023, it said, adding NO2 is a gas primarily formed through burning fossil fuels.
“PM10 can be breathed into lungs and PM2.5 is small enough to enter the bloodstream,” Stats NZ environment and agricultural statistics senior manager Stuart Jones said.
Concentrations of particles, gas, and liquid in air can be harmful to human health and contribute to health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory health problems and increased mortality, Jones said. ■