Monitoring the environment

Campbellfield 2008–09 air monitoring results



What and where we monitored

Monitoring dates: February 2008 to February 2009.

Air toxics monitored: Benzo(a)pyrene.

Sampling frequency: 24-hour samples once every six days.

Number of samples analysed: Benzo(a)pyrene — 59.

Location: 1713 Sydney Road, Campbellfield.

Results of monitoring

We monitored benzo(a)pyrene at a residential site alongside Sydney Road in Campbellfield. The primary focus of this study was to monitor air toxics levels alongside a major truck route.

The average concentration of benzo(a)pyrene remained below the health-based monitoring investigation level, with most samples recording levels below the chemical analysis detection limit. We found detectable levels of benzo(a)pyrene on five days, predominantly during autumn/winter. We expected this 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 autumn/winter, due to lower winds.

24-hour results

Sample date Benzo(a)pyrene (ng/m3)
Annual investigation level 0.3
24-hour investigation level Not applicable
Annual average 0.1
10-Feb-08 Not detected
16-Feb-08 Not detected
22-Feb-08 Not detected
28-Feb-08 Not detected
05-Mar-08 Not detected
11-Mar-08 Not detected
17-Mar-08 0.2
23-Mar-08 Not detected
29-Mar-08 Not detected
04-Apr-08 Not detected
10-Apr-08 Not detected
16-Apr-08 Not detected
22-Apr-08 Not detected
28-Apr-08 Not detected
04-May-08 Not detected
10-May-08 Not detected
16-May-08 0.6
22-May-08 0.3
28-May-08 Not detected
03-Jun-08 0.4
09-Jun-08 Not detected
15-Jun-08 Not detected
21-Jun-08 Not detected
27-Jun-08 Not detected
03-Jul-08 Not detected
09-Jul-08 Not detected
15-Jul-08 0.3
21-Jul-08 Not detected
27-Jul-08 Not detected
02-Aug-08 Not detected
08-Aug-08 Not detected
14-Aug-08 Not detected
20-Aug-08 Not detected
26-Aug-08 Not detected
01-Sep-08 Not detected
07-Sep-08 Not detected
13-Sep-08 Not detected
19-Sep-08 Not detected
25-Sep-08 Not detected
01-Oct-08 Not detected
7-Oct-08 Not sampled
13-Oct-08 Not detected
19-Oct-08 Not sampled
25-Oct-08 Not detected
31-Oct-08 Not detected
06-Nov-08 Not detected
12-Nov-08 Not detected
18-Nov-08 Not detected
24-Nov-08 Not detected
30-Nov-08 Not detected
06-Dec-08 Not detected
12-Dec-08 Not detected
18-Dec-08 Not detected
24-Dec-08 Not detected
30-Dec-08 Not detected
05-Jan-09 Not detected
11-Jan-09 Not sampled
17-Jan-09 Not sampled
23-Jan-09 Not sampled
29-Jan-09 Not detected
04-Feb-09 Not detected
10-Feb-09 Not detected
16-Feb-09 Not detected
22-Feb-09 Not detected

Not applicable: A 24-hour investigation level is not specified for benzo(a)pyrene.

Not detected: Air toxic was below measurable levels.

Not sampled: No result due to sampling failure or error.

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

Detection limits for Benzo(a)pyrene

Detection limits are as follows:

Compound Benzo(a)pyrene
(ng/m3)
Detection limit 0.2

Page last updated on 15 Mar 2014