Annual air quality statement 2022

This statement summarises ambient air quality data collected during 2022 through the Air Quality Monitoring Network (AQMN) run by the EPA. Majority of the air quality data collected by the EPA are reported against national standards or in some cases with the relevant licence limits or conditions.

Air Quality Monitoring Network (AQMN)

At present, the EPA operates a total of 10 long-term ambient air quality monitoring stations in South Australia to measure air quality levels in a nationally consistent manner.

The stations continuously measure the gaseous pollutants – ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and also particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5). Note that not all pollutants are monitored at every station.

In addition to the continuous monitoring of the gaseous pollutants and particulate matter, 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.

The EPA also runs campaign monitoring programs targeting particular emission sources. In 2022, the EPA commenced the Mount Barker wood smoke program in the Adelaide Hills to investigate the impact of wood heaters on air quality in the area.

In the last 5 years the EPA has also completed several other successful air quality studies such as the Marino dust study, the Lonsdale and Hallett Cove dust study, and the Victoria Road air quality study which involved multiple external stakeholders such as local community groups, councils and SA Health. 

The following is a summary of the current monitoring network:

• Greater Adelaide:
  • long-term monitoring in the Adelaide CBD, Birkenhead, North Haven, Northfield,
    Elizabeth, Christies and Netley
  • campaign monitoring in Mount Barker (pictured above).
• Whyalla – long-term monitoring at Walls Street and Schulz Reserve.
• Port Pirie:
  • long-term monitoring at Oliver Street
  • lead monitoring at Pirie West, Oliver Street, Ellen Street, and Frank
       Green Park.

Key findings of the 2022 air quality data analysis

• SA experienced the best air quality since 2017.
• Pollutant levels met national standards on 100% of days at most monitoring locations.
• Levels of the gaseous pollutants met national standards at all Greater Adelaide locations.
• The level of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in 2022 was lower than in 2021 at all monitoring locations across the state.

Greater Adelaide

• The national standards for the gaseous pollutants were met at all monitoring locations
• Daily average PM₁₀ levels exceeded the national standard at two locations:
  • Netley (2 days where PM₁₀ levels did not meet the standard)
  • Birkenhead (1 day where PM₁₀ levels did not meet the standard).
• Exceedances at both sites were due to local sources of PM₁₀, for example construction and industrial activities.
• Daily average PM_2.5 levels met the national standard at all locations except Mount Barker. In Mount Barker, there were 2 days during winter where PM_2.5 levels exceeded the standard.

Spencer Region

• There were 20 days where daily average PM₁₀ levels did not meet the national standard in Whyalla, at the Walls Street monitoring station. However, the number of days with exceedances at this location in 2022 was lower than 2021 (exceeded the standard on 23 days).
• Daily average PM₁₀ levels at Schulz Reserve in Whyalla met the standard at all times.
• The major sources of PM₁₀ in Whyalla is the local steelworks and wind-blown regional dust.
• Daily average PM₁₀ levels in Port Pirie (Oliver Street) met the standard at all times.
• There were 40 exceedances of the 1-hour SO₂ standard and 11 exceedances of the 1-day SO₂ standard in Port Pirie (Oliver St). However, there were fewer exceedances in 2022 compared to 2021, where there were 56 exceedances of the 1-hour SO₂ standard and 24 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 licence limits at Oliver Street and Pirie West monitoring stations.

Updates on the AQMN

The EPA is progressing with the implementation of the Ambient Air Quality NEPM, which was varied in 2021. The variation took into account the latest scientific evidence about the health impacts of air pollution and as a result significantly reduced the standards for ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

The intention of the AAQ NEPM is to monitor at sites that provide an indication of the air quality experienced by people generally in a region to understand public exposure to pollutants rather than focusing particularly on any specific pollution sources.

Emissions from particular sources will be monitored and assessed through state-based air quality management frameworks, for example through air quality studies such as the ones mentioned previously or monitoring conducted by industry as a condition of their EPA licence.

The EPA is also pleased to announce that a refurbished Elizabeth monitoring station in northern Adelaide was re-established in September 2022 after being closed in February 2020 (pictured). In addition, the EPA will continue the wood smoke monitoring campaign in Mount Barker until the end of winter 2023.

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.