Six air pollution excess nights

Press, 16 July 1987, Page 9

Six air pollution excess nights

Christchurch air pollution levels have exceeded World Health Organisation standards six times this winter. On three of those occasions the Canterbury United Council’s “Stop the Smog” campaign has failed. The campaign, which relies on Meteorological Service warnings, asks

people, to forgo open fires on evenings where high pollution is predicted because of contributing weather factors. On three days where the city’s pollution rose above the W.H.O. limit the council did not declare a no-fires warning. On each of those occasions the city experienced the worst pollution levels recorded

to date. Wednesday, June 10, and Tuesday, July 7, resulted in pollution levels more than 200 on the W.H.O. scale—7s above the trigger level. On Monday, July 6, pollution levels of 197 were recorded. The Meteorological Service’s uncertainty as to the extent of pollution-

conducive conditions led to a delay in the alert thereby missing no-fire warning deadlines on July 6. However, on the other two occasions only medium pollution warnings were given. Nevertheless, the council is convinced its campaign is working but a final analysis of its effect will not be available until the end of this winter.