Scientists look at air's dirty, little secrets

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village chief executive Blair Millar at the village, which will host a meeting organised under the auspices of International Atomic Energy Agency next month. Photo / Ben Fraser

Some of the world's top scientists will converge on Whakarewarewa Village next month to discuss air pollution and how it affects health.

Twenty-five experts from 14 countries will be in Whakarewarewa between November 8 and 13 at a meeting organised under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

IAEA programme lead country co-ordinator and New Zealand national project counterpart Andreas Markwitz, from GNS Science, said the scientists would compare analysis results from their countries and share knowledge about the sources of tiny particles in the air that could cause adverse health effects.

They would also canvass long-term trends in air pollution and measures being used to combat air pollution internationally.

Dr Markwitz said pollution from air particulate matter had been found to be significant throughout the Rotorua region.

It consisted mostly of vehicle emissions and smoke from domestic fires, with the problem worsening in winter.

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village chief executive Blair Millar at the village, which will host a meeting organised under the auspices of International Atomic Energy Agency next month. Photo / Ben Fraser

"In New Zealand, air pollution is believed to be responsible for about 2300 premature deaths each year, as well as $8.4 billion in health costs and lost productivity annually," he said.

"Scientists have shown that reducing particulate matter levels in the air delivers major health benefits for local communities as well as the economy."

The IAEA programme, running since 2010, has generated a large database which will be finalised at the Rotorua meeting.

Whakarewarewa Thermal Village chief executive Blair Millar said it was a huge event for the village and they were proud to be involved.

"We have a dedicated room here for GNS [Science] for their work on the geothermal side of things and now it's also used as a base for the air pollution research, which is critical here in Rotorua."