Poor air quality is regularly identified by residents in the Muswellbrook Shire as an area of concern and has prompted Council to join the Operational Network of Air Quality Impact Resources (OPENAIR) project in collaboration with the NSW Smart Sensing Network and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
Low-cost air sensors will be deployed to measure PM2.5 and PM10 particles as well as temperature and humidity. Later in the project the sensors will be moved closer to the New England Highway to measure levels of nitrogen dioxide – a pollutant emitted by diesel vehicles. The data will establish nitrogen dioxide levels to allow for a “before and after” comparison when the Muswellbrook Bypass is operational.
Exposure to high levels of PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide has been known to increase respiratory health conditions like asthma and has the potential to lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
The new sensors are in addition to the air quality stations maintained by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment throughout the Hunter Valley and the collected data will be made available to a range of agencies, including NSW Health.
Council’s General Manager, Derek Finnigan, has expressed gratitude to the NSW Smart Sensing Network for the chance to participate in the project.
General Manager Derek Finnigan“We know that residents regularly identify air quality as an issue of concern to them. These sensors will collect data to help improve our knowledge on air quality, particularly at different times of the day and night and across the seasons. We hope to be able to share the data collected with the community, local health services, and regulators to encourage best practice in this area, so we can all breathe cleaner air,” he said.
