Annual air quality statement 2023

The Air Quality Monitoring Network (AQMN)

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) monitors ambient air quality in South Australia (SA) and assesses the data to determine the air quality experienced by people generally in a region to understand public exposure to pollutants. The EPA also regulates air pollution from industries through an extensive air quality management framework.

During 2023, the EPA operated a total of ten long-term ambient air quality monitoring stations in SA to measure air pollutant levels in a nationally consistent manner. These stations continuously measured particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and the gaseous pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO).

In addition to the continuous monitoring of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, the EPA also monitors airborne lead levels in the regional city of Port Pirie, which is the location of the Nyrstar lead and multi-metal smelter.

National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure

The National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (AAQ NEPM) sets national standards for particulate matter and gaseous pollutants against which states and territories assess their ambient air quality (https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2007B01142/latest/versions).

NEPM standards for pollutants as of 2023

Note: There are no maximum allowable exceedances

Annual average levels of lead in air are not compared to the national standard for lead. Airborne lead levels measured by Nyrstar at their Oliver Street and Pirie West Primary School monitoring sites are assessed against licence limits set by the EPA. Data from EPA monitoring sites are used for verification purposes and to inform the EPA on the overall air quality in Port Pirie, on a long-term basis.

Key findings of the 2023 air quality data analysis

• Air quality in SA is stable and the state experienced similar air quality to last year.
• Annual average PM₁₀ levels increased at six locations by 2 to 14% and decreased by 5 to 39% at three locations. See Annual average PM₁₀ summary graph (Figure 2).
• Annual average PM₅ levels ranged from 4 – 7 µg/m³_, which was similar to 2022 levels. See Annual average PM_2.5 summary graph (Figure 2).
• The annual average level of SO₂ in Port Pirie increased by approximately 60% in 2023 (0.005 ppm) compared to 2022 (0.003 ppm).
• The SA State of the Environment Report 2023 has been published and provides information on key aspects of the environment, including air quality. The report can be found at https://soe.epa.sa.gov.au/. 

Metropolitan Adelaide

• Annual average PM₁₀ levels ranged from 13.0 µg/m³ at Elizabeth to 16.2 µg/m³ at Christies.
• Daily average PM₁₀ levels exceeded the national standard 3 times at Birkenhead monitoring location during the first quarter of 2023 (January – March). The standard was met at all other sites.
• Exceedances at Birkenhead were due to local sources of PM₁₀, for example construction and industrial activities.
• Daily average PM₅ levels met the national standard at all metropolitan Adelaide monitoring locations including the campaign monitoring station in the Adelaide Hills at Mount Barker.
• Levels of the gaseous pollutants met the national standards at all metropolitan Adelaide locations except for one exceedance of the 1-hour NO₂ standard at the Adelaide CBD station.

Spencer Region

• Annual average PM₁₀ levels ranged from 15.3 µg/m³ to 19.2 µg/m³ at Whyalla, and 17.8 µg/m³ at Port Pirie.
• There were 8 days where daily average PM₁₀ levels didn’t meet the national standard in Whyalla at the Walls St Monitoring Station. There were fewer exceedances at this location in 2023 compared to 2022, which had 20 exceedances of the standard.
• Daily average PM₁₀ levels at Schulz Reserve in Whyalla met the standard at all times.
• The major sources of PM₁₀ in Whyalla are the local steelworks and wind-blown regional dust.
• There were 3 days where daily average PM₁₀ levels at Port Pirie Oliver St didn’t meet the national standard.
• The major sources of PM₁₀ in Port Pirie are local industry and wind-blown regional dust.
• There were 99 exceedances of the 1-hour SO₂ standard and 28 exceedances of the 1-day SO₂ standard in Port Pirie at Oliver St. This is significantly higher than in 2022, where there were 40 exceedances of the 1-hour SO₂ standard and 11 exceedances of the 1-day SO₂ The major source of SO₂ in Port Pirie is the local smelter.
• Annual average levels of lead in air met the EPA’s licence limits at Oliver St and Pirie West Primary School monitoring stations (for more information please follow SA EPA Community Page on Port Pirie (Nyrstar)).

Figure 2: Annual average PM_2.5 summary graph.

Updates on the AQMN

During September 2023, the EPA completed its Mount Barker wood smoke project.
As part of  the project, the EPA collected ambient air quality data across the Mount Barker township using a combination of standard particulate monitors and a network of low-cost PM_2.5 sensors (Image 1). The final report from the project will be published soon.

Image 2: The new and upgraded air quality monitoring shelter in Christies.

Further information

• Hourly updated data from the AQMN.
• Validated data, including lead data, are available on Data SA.
• Further information about the EPA’s campaign monitoring and air quality studies is available on the Engage EPA website.