Air Quality

Indicator Rationale 

Clean air is cited as a fundamental element in Victoria’s Sustainability Framework, “Our Environment, Our Future” (2005) and this indicator provides a measure of the state of the environment in terms of air quality.  It is also an indirect measure of population exposure to suspended particles and noxious gases (United Nations, 2003).  High population density and the concentration of industry, households, industry power stations and transportation (motor vehicles) exert great pressures on local environments (United Nations, 2003). 

However, due to prevailing weather patterns and topography, the effects of air pollution may be felt off site, far from where they were generated.

Data Source 

Environment Protection Authority, Victoria 

Measure

Number of days when polluting concentration exceeds National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) guidelines.

Reference

Environment Report: Air Monitoring Report 2006, Compliance with the National Enviornment Protection (ambient air quality) Measure Publication, 1137, June 2007.