Monitoring the environment

Benzo(a)pyrene levels in Victorian air 2003–08


Benzo(a)pyrene is a by-product of combustion and industry processes.

The chart on this page shows benzo(a)pyrene concentrations measured by EPA in Melbourne and Traralgon between 2003 and 2008.

All the results are below the health-based monitoring investigation level.

Annual average benzo(a)pyrene concentrations for EPA’s polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) studies

Benzo pyrene

ng/m3: nanograms per cubic metre (1 billionth of a gram per cubic metre)

Note: Some projects ran for less than twelve months. More information on individual projects is available on this website.

Sample date Location Average benzo(a)pyrene concentration (ng/m3)

2003

Alphington

0.2

2003

Paisley (Altona North)

0.1

2003–04

Nunawading (Springvale Road)

0.1

2004

Brooklyn (Westgate Freeway)

0.2

2005–06

Eltham

0.2

2006–07

Carlton

0.2

2007

Traralgon

0.1

2007

Mooroolbark

0.1

2008

Campbellfield

0.1

National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM)
investigation level (annual average)

0.3

Page last updated on 17 Sep 2014