Monitoring the air in Carlton
Monitoring dates: May 2006 – May 2007.
Air toxics monitored: Benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene.
Sampling frequency: 24 hour samples once every six days.
Number of samples analysed:
Benzene, toluene and xylene: 58
benzo(a)pyrene: 59
formaldehyde: 54
Location: Corner of Nicholson and Elgin Streets, Carlton.
Results
Benzo(a)pyrene, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene were monitored in a residential area near a busy road. The primary focus of this study was to monitor air toxics levels in an inner-city site impacted by high traffic numbers.
Concentrations of all air toxics monitored were below the health based monitoring investigation levels.
Most samples recorded benzo(a)pyrene levels below the chemical analysis detection limit. Detectable levels of benzo(a)pyrene were reported on a number of days during colder weather. This was expected because:
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from diesel engines and other combustion sources form more readily when the ambient temperature is low;
- There is generally less dispersion of pollutants in winter due to lower winds.
24 hour results
| Sample date | Benzene (ppb) | Benzo(a)pyrene (ng/m3) | Formaldehyde (ppb) | Toluene (ppb) | Xylene (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual investigation level | 3.0 | 0.3 | Not applicable | 100.0 | 200.0 |
| 24 hour investigation level | Not applicable | Not applicable | 40.0 | 1000.0 | 250.0 |
| Annual average | 0.7 | 0.2 | Not applicable | 2.4 | 1.0 |
| Maximum 24 hour level | Not applicable | Not applicable | 4.0 | 7.0 | 3.4 |
| 21-May-06 | 1.0 | Not sampled | 2.8 | 3.1 | 1.5 |
| 27-May-06 | 1.7 | Not sampled | 3.3 | 5.5 | 2.3 |
| 02-Jun-06 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 2.2 |
| 08-Jun-06 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 2.4 |
| 14-Jun-06 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 5.0 | 2.6 |
| 20-Jun-06 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 7.0 | 3.4 |
| 26-Jun-06 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 02-Jul-06 | 1.0 | Not detected | Not sampled | 3.3 | 1.2 |
| 08-Jul-06 | 0.5 | 0.3 | Not sampled | 1.4 | 0.9 |
| 14-Jul-06 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 1.9 |
| 20-Jul-06 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 1.6 |
| 26-Jul-06 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 2.6 |
| 01-Aug-06 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.1 |
| 07-Aug-06 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 6.6 | 3.2 |
| 13-Aug-06 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| 19-Aug-06 | 0.5 | Not detected | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 |
| 25-Aug-06 | 0.3 | Not detected | Not sampled | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| 31-Aug-06 | 1.1 | Not detected | 2.7 | 5.0 | 2.1 |
| 06-Sep-06 | 0.5 | Not detected | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 12-Sep-06 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 |
| 18-Sep-06 | Not detected | 0.2 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 24-Sep-06 | 0.8 | Not detected | 0.9 | 3.2 | 1.1 |
| 30-Sep-06 | 0.4 | Not detected | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| 06-Oct-06 | 0.4 | Not detected | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| 12-Oct-06 | 0.5 | Not detected | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 |
| 18-Oct-06 | Not detected | Not detected | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 24-Oct-06 | 0.8 | Not detected | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.5 |
| 30-Oct-06 | 0.6 | Not detected | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 |
| 5-Nov-06 | 0.4 | Not detected | Not sampled | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| 11-Nov-06 | Not sampled | Not detected | 2.1 | Not sampled | Not sampled |
| 17-Nov-06 | 0.4 | Not detected | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| 23-Nov-06 | 0.4 | Not detected | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| 29-Nov-06 | Not detected | Not detected | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 05-Dec-06 | Not sampled | Not detected | 3.2 | Not sampled | Not sampled |
| 11-Dec-06 | 0.3 | Not sampled | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 12-Dec-06 | Not sampled | Not sampled | 3.1 | Not sampled | Not sampled |
| 17-Dec-06 | 0.4 | Not detected | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| 23-Dec-06 | Not detected | Not detected | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 29-Dec-06 | 0.3 | Not detected | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| 04-Jan-07 | 0.5 | Not detected | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| 10-Jan-07 | 0.8 | Not detected | 3.8 | 2.7 | 0.7 |
| 16-Jan-07 | 0.6 | Not detected | 4.0 | 2.3 | 0.6 |
| 22-Jan-07 | Not detected | Not detected | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 28-Jan-07 | 0.3 | Not detected | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 03-Feb-07 | 0.4 | Not detected | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| 9-Feb-07 | 0.5 | Not detected | 3.0 | 2.4 | 0.8 |
| 15-Feb-07 | 0.7 | Not detected | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 |
| 21-Feb-07 | 0.5 | Not detected | Not sampled | 1.8 | 0.5 |
| 27-Feb-07 | 0.8 | Not detected | Not sampled | 3.3 | 1.1 |
| 05-Mar-07 | 0.3 | Not detected | Not sampled | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 11-Mar-07 | 0.4 | Not detected | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.3 |
| 17-Mar-07 | 0.3 | Not detected | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| 23-Mar-07 | 0.5 | Not detected | Not detected | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| 29-Mar-07 | 0.4 | Not detected | Not sampled | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| 04-Apr-07 | 0.5 | Not detected | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 |
| 10-Apr-07 | 0.8 | Not detected | Not sampled | 2.8 | 0.9 |
| 16-Apr-07 | 0.3 | Not detected | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| 22-Apr-07 | Not sampled | Not detected | 1.9 | Not sampled | Not sampled |
| 28-Apr-07 | Not sampled | 0.2 | 3.6 | Not sampled | Not sampled |
| 04-May-07 | 0.3 | Not detected | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| 10-May-07 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 5.6 | 2.2 |
| 16-May-07 | 0.8 | Not detected | 1.8 | 3.6 | 1.3 |
| 22-May-07 | 0.3 | Not detected | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
Not applicable: A 24-hour investigation level is not specified for benzene and benzo(a)pyrene.
Not detected: Air toxic was below measurable levels.
Not sampled: No result is available due to sampling failure or error.
ppb: parts per billion (for every one billion litres of air there is one litre of the pollutant).
ng/m3: nanograms per cubic metre (1 billionth of a gram per cubic metre).
Detection limits are as follows:
| Compound | Benzene (ppb) | Benzo(a)pyrene (ng/m3) | Formaldehyde (ppb) | Toluene (ppb) | Xylene (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detection limit | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
ppb: parts per billion (for every one billion litres of air there is one litre of the pollutant).
ng/m3: nanograms per cubic metre (1 billionth of a gram per cubic metre).
Air quality summary
Sunday February 12 2012: No summary is available today.
Forecast: GOOD to VERY GOOD air quality is expected in Melbourne on Monday