Canterbury Regional Council has launched a pilot study to measure nitrogen dioxide concentrations in Timaru.
Timaru's main street. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Eighteen tubes installed around the town will measure the pollutant, which is mostly found in traffic exhaust but can also be released through home heating and industrial sources.
The three-month study will will track concentrations in residential areas, high congestion areas and during peak traffic.
It comes as a study estimatres nitrogen dioxide kills 2000 New Zealanders every year, with the impact at lower concentrations than previously thought.
The World Health Organisation has also substantially lowered global concentration limits in its 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines.
