A smoky start to the day in Gore on 1st August meant the Eastern Southland town recorded its first exceedance of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality in four years.

Environment Southland's (ES) Gore monitoring site, at Main Street, recorded a 24-hour average PM10 concentration of 51.43 micrograms/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air), over the standards’ threshold of 50 micrograms/m3.

ES team leader air and terrestrial science Nick Talbot said during the early morning period there was a long period of high particulate concentrations, which drove the 24-hour average up across the day.

“Compounding the early morning high concentrations, that evening saw some of the highest PM10 concentrations of the winter to date."

"This was likely due to cold temperatures and low wind speeds allowing pollution from home heating to accumulate,” Talbot said.

Invercargill's Pomona Street monitoring site also recorded its fifth exceedance of the season on Sunday, 4 August. The exceedance was recorded as a 24-hour average PM10 concentration of 58.85 micrograms/m3.

“It’s disappointing to see Gore have an exceedance after such a long period but it shows more work needs to be done to reduce air pollution levels in the airsheds."

"It’s important we continue to work on reducing air pollution because air quality can have adverse impact on people’s health."

"Particulates can easily penetrate the lungs, especially for those who are more susceptible to health complications, such as children, the elderly and others with respiratory or cardiac conditions,” Talbot said.

“The way you burn affects your neighbours and neighbourhood."

"Up to 75 per cent of outdoor smoke can make its way into other people's houses.”

While Talbot encouraged everybody to keep warm when temperatures drop, he said the best tip to reduce smoke impact and get the most value for your wood was to keep fires burning hot and bright, burn dry wood, don’t bank your fire overnight and make sure the flue is clean and burner well maintained.

Under the Regional Air Plan non-compliant burners are being progressively phased out. As of January 2022, any burner in Invercargill and Gore that was installed before 1 January 2001 must now be replaced by a compliant burner.

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