Nitrogen dioxide concentrations
You are viewing an archived copy of the 2017 report.
Key finding
Since 1993, there have been no exceedances of the National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM) Air Quality Standards and no clear trends over the past decade. Levels of nitrogen dioxide in all regions are consistently well below the standards.
Nitrogen dioxide is produced from high-temperature combustion processes. It is found in motor vehicle emissions and in industrial emissions from fossil fuel combustion (power stations).
In South East Queensland (SEQ), nitrogen dioxide is predominantly produced by motor vehicles.
Nitrogen dioxide is an important air pollutant because it contributes to the formation of photochemical smog.
Average levels of nitrogen dioxide are higher in SEQ than in Gladstone and Townsville, mainly due to the greater population and traffic density.
There have been no exceedances of the National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM) Air Quality Standards and no clear trends over the past decade.
Maximum 1-hour average levels measured in SEQ are about two-thirds of NEPM Air Quality Standard while in Townsville and Gladstone, the levels are about one-third. The increased maximum 1-hour level in Gladstone in 2017 was the result of emissions from a bushfire close to one monitoring site and does not reflect maximum concentrations across the Gladstone region.
More information:
Indicator: Trends in number of exceedances of NEPM air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide concentrations, and annual average concentrations
Trends in number of exceedences of National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM) Air Quality Standards for nitrogen dioxide concentrations, and annual average concentrations, by airshed for 2000-2017.