Organic Air Toxics Monitoring in Victoria
EPA Victoria has been measuring the air toxics benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 1,3-butadiene, and as well as ethylbenzene toluene and xylene in ambient air in a number of locations in Melbourne and the regional area of Corio for projects at various locations since 2003. The number of air toxics monitored was extended in 2005 to include formaldehyde. As part of the National Environment Protection Measure (Air Toxics), the number of benzene sites was expanded in 2006 to include two inner city suburban sites and two residential sites near a fuel storage facility while the suite of air toxics was monitored at one of the inner city suburban sites. A summary of the results for these monitoring programs is presented in this paper. Results from monitoring to date indicate that levels of these air toxics are generally low and below the specified monitoring investigation levels specified in the National Environment Protection Measure (Air Toxics) with the exception of benzo(a)pyrene, in areas where there is heavy diesel traffic.