Antinuclear

Coal industry is Australia’s top air polluter

Air pollution increases 69 per cent as coal named top polluter, SMH, Josh DyeApril 18, 2016  Air quality across Australia has deteriorated to alarming levels with the coal industry the nation’s worst polluter, new data has shown.

The most concerning rise in air pollution is from PM10, a coarse pollution particle about the width of a human hair. Nationally, total PM10 emissions have increased 69 per cent in one year, and 194 per cent in five years.

The figures come from the National Pollutant Inventory’s 2014-15 report which collects information about toxic pollution. Non-profit legal practice Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) spent the weekend analysing the figures, which were released on Friday.

EJA researcher Dr James Whelan said the findings raise serious questions about the future of Australia’s air quality and called for tougher federal government regulation, an urgent transition from coal to renewable energy, and a National Air Pollution Control Act.

“Watching the continuing escalation of air pollution across Australia, particularly from coal mines and coal-fired power stations, is like seeing a car speed faster and faster with no police response.”

Air pollution kills more than 3000 people in Australian every year, almost three times the annual road toll, and costs the nation more than $24 billion in health care costs each year.

Dr Whelan said reducing particle pollution is critical to avoiding a public health crisis in mining areas.

“Particle pollution accounts for more than 90 per cent of the total health impacts of air pollution in general.”

Dr Whelan said just like smoking, there is no safe level of particle pollution. ……..http://www.smh.com.au/environment/air-pollution-increases-69-per-cent-as-coal-named-top-polluter-20160417-go8b82.html

April 17, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, environment