Nitrogen dioxide concentrations
Key Finding
Levels of nitrogen dioxide across Queensland are consistently well below the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure annual and 1-hour average standards of 0.030ppm and 0.120ppm respectively.
Nitrogen dioxide is produced from high-temperature combustion processes. Motor vehicle emissions and industries such as coal-fired power stations are the main contributors.
Nitrogen dioxide is an important air pollutant as it contributes to the formation of photochemical smog.
Average levels of nitrogen dioxide are higher in South East Queensland (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 (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (NEPM) air quality standards and no clear trends over the past decade.
- Maximum hourly average levels measured in SEQ are about two-thirds of the NEPM 1-hour average standard of 0.120ppm.
- Maximum hourly levels are about one-third of the NEPM 1-hour average standard in South West Queensland, Townsville and Gladstone.
- Nearby bushfires close to a monitoring site at Gladstone affected its maximum 1-hour level in 2017.
More information:
Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets
Download data from Queensland Government data
Metadata
Trends in number of exceedances of National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM) Air Quality Standards for nitrogen dioxide concentrations, and annual average concentrations, by airshed for 2000–2019.