Christchurch smog worse than thought

Christchurch air pollution could be 30 per cent worse than officials realise, according to a Canterbury University researcher.

A new method of measuring the city's pollutants was tested across 13 sites in the city in July, as part of a $1 million study of air pollution and its health and economic effects.

Researcher Simon Kingham said the system used by Environment Canterbury and many authorities worldwide, seemed to be underestimating the scale of the pollution problem.