Some of EPA’s air quality measurement and reporting methods are accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). Our NATA accreditation number is 15119.

Air quality information is available from EPA AirWatch.

How we collect air monitoring data

Instrument or parameter Australian Standard NATA-accreditated
Siting AS 3580.1.1  Yes
TEOM (PM10) AS 3580.9.8
 Yes
Nephelometer (visibility reduction) AS 3580.12.1  Yes
BAM (PM2.5) AS 3580.9.12: 2013  No
Portable air monitor (PM2.5 indicative)  -  No
Nephelometer (PM2.5 indicative)  -  No
Meteorological (wind speed and direction) AS3580.14  Yes
Carbon monoxide (CO) AS 3580.7.1  Yes
Ozone (O3) AS 3580.6.1  Yes
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) AS 3580.4.1  Yes
Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) AS 3580.5.1  Yes
High Vol (PM10) AS 3580.9.6  No
Partisol (PM2.5)
AS 3580.9.10  No

Our work with High Vol (PM10) and Partisol (PM2.5) is currently performed by a contractor, Golder Associates P/L (NATA accreditation number 1910). They use EPA sites and equipment.

Location of EPA’s air monitoring sites

We put our air monitoring sites in areas that represent the air quality experienced by most people. For example, most Victorians live and work close to roads. This is why most of our air monitoring sites are in population centres next to roads.

The Australian Standard (AS 3580.1.1) specifies that air monitoring stations should be more than 50 metres from a road. Currently, only our Footscray air monitoring site meets this requirement.

Read more about EPA air quality monitoring 

About EPA AirWatch

How we forecast air quality

Air quality categories

Calculating air quality categories

People sensitive to air pollution

 

Reviewed 28 October 2019