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Report of the
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Environment
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Report of the
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Environment
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| Duration of sampling | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One hour | 13 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 8 |
| Four hour | 13 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 12 |
| Note: | The standard for ozone is 0.10 parts per million for a one-hour average and 0.08 parts per million for a four-hour average, set by the National Environment Protection Council. |
| Source: | NSW Department of Environment and Conservation incorporating Environment Protection Authority. |
Ozone is a photochemical air pollutant that can affect human health. Ozone causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, and has been associated with increased deaths from and cases of respiratory diseases (Morgan G et al, 1998; Jalaludin B et al, 2000; Levy JL et al, 2001).
Ozone in the lower atmosphere is produced from photochemical reactions, catalysed by sunlight, between oxides of nitrogen (including NO2) and reactive organic compounds (which are both found in motor vehicle emissions). Ozone also occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere where it absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
In Sydney, the number of days when the one-hour and four-hour ozone standards have been exceeded has fluctuated, with the lowest recordings for both these measures occurring in 1995 and the highest in 2001. In 2005, the one-hour ozone standard was exceeded on 8 days and the four-hour ozone standard was exceeded on 12 days.
Weather conditions and events such as bushfires cause much of the annual variability in the number of days on which ozone standards are exceeded. Increasing motor vehicle use may increase average levels of ozone in the longer term.
| For more information: |
Jalaludin B, Chey T, O'Toole B, Smith W et al. Acute effects of low levels of ambient ozone on peak expiratory flow rate in a cohort of Australian children. Int J Epidemiol 2000; 29: 549-557. Levy JL, Carrothers TJ, Tuomisto JT, Hammitt JK and Evans JS. Assessing the public health benefits of reduced ozone concentrations. Environ Health Perspect 2001; 109: 1215-1226. NSW Department of Health. Air pollution health alerts - ozone. Available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/living/airpollution.html Department of Environment and Conservation. New South Wales State of the Environment 2003. Sydney: Department of Environment and Conservation, 2003. Available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/SOE/soe2003/index.htm. The next edition of the report is expected at the end of 2006. Morgan G, Corbett S, Wlodarczyk J. Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions in Sydney, Australia, 1990 to 1994. Am J Public Health1998; 88: 1761-66. Morgan G, Corbett S, Wlodarczyk J, Lewis P. Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in Sydney, Australia, 1989 through 1993. Am J Public Health 1998; 88: 759-764. Bell ML, Dominici F, Samet JM. A meta-analysis of time-series studies of ozone and mortality. Epidemiology 2005; 16: 436-445. |
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| Copyright notice: | This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited. |
| Suggested citation: | Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/env/env_airo3.htm. Accessed (insert date of access). |
| Produced by: | Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. |
| Last updated on: | 16 October 2006 |
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