Atmosphere
Page 112
EPA Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Table 19: Summary 24hr average of PM
10
particulate levels measured at Lefevre Primary School
(Source: EPA, 2008)
In June 2005 the EPA installed a continuous monitoring station at the Lefevre Primary School in Birkenhead to measure PM
10
. The
results as displayed in Table 18 indicate that the NEPM standard exceeded 5 times in 2007 and 6 times in 2008 within the
monitoring period (The NEPM standard is exceeded when 50 ug/m3 is exceeded more than 5 days within 12 months).
Hot-Spot Monitoring
‘Hot spot’ monitoring is used by the EPA to fill in the gaps in the ambient air quality monitoring program and assess pollutants in
specific areas.
In 2008, a 'Hot Spot' air quality-monitoring site was set up at the Lefevre Primary School due to parents’ and teachers’ concern
about harmful dust particles potentially present in the air due to the presence of soil stockpiles at the Newport Quays development
site across the road. After three months of monitoring it was evident that dust was blowing in from a number of sources, one being
the nearby stockpiles on development sites. The results showed only short periods when PM
10
, concentrations were elevated above
background levels.
The EPA was able to work with the site developers to improve dust management practices and as a result recorded lower PM
10
concentrations than had been measured previously (EPA, 2008).
Lefevre Primary School
No. of days NEPM std exceeded
Average (
µ
g/m
3
)
Maximum (
µ
g/m
3
)
2007
5
20.9
72.6
2008
6
19.5
60.8
