Advice on legislation or legal policy issues contained in this paper is provided for use in parliamentary debate and for related parliamentary purposes. This paper is not professional legal opinion.
Briefing Paper No. 11/1998 by Stewart Smith
Page Content
- In 1992 the Metropolitan Air Quality Study was commissioned to
help identify the sources and problems of air pollution in Sydney.
Concurrently, the NSW Health Department began a three year Health and Air
Research Program (HARP). These two studies have provided the Government with an
understanding of the sources of air pollutants, their distribution and
dispersal in the Sydney region and their health effects. With this information,
strategies to reduce air pollution can be developed (page 1).
- Air borne particles are very diverse in their size and chemical
composition. They can be referred to as total suspended particulates, black
smoke or described by their size. Common size descriptors are PM10 and PM2.5,
with the numbers referring to the maximum particle diameter in micrometres.
Respirable particles (up to PM10 in size) can be inhaled deeply into the lung
and have been associated with respiratory problems. The HARP study concluded
that fine particle pollution accounts for 397 premature deaths in Sydney (pages
3-5).
- Ozone is a pollutant formed from the reaction of nitrogen
oxides and reactive organic compounds in the presence of light. Ozone can
irritate the eyes and air passages and increase the sensitivity of airways to
allergic triggers for some asthma sufferers. In the Sydney region, mobile
sources account for 82% of nitrogen dioxide emissions and 49% of reactive
organic compounds. Ozone production is variable according to meterological
conditions. However, during warm summers Sydney is prone to ozone production,
which can peak well above World Health Organisation goals (pages 5-7).
- Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant in its own right, in addition
to being a contributor to ozone production. Nitrogen dioxide can damage the
mechanisms which protect the human respiratory tract. The pollution trend of
nitrogen dioxide is not clear (pages 7-8).
- Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas which when in
the blood stream prohibits haemoglobin from carrying oxygen around the body. In
the Sydney region, motor vehicles account for about 90% of carbon monoxide
emissions. The overall levels of carbon monoxide in Sydney are low, although
health goals continue to be exceeded in the central business district (page 9).
- Sulfur dioxide is a pungent gas which attacks the respiratory
tract directly, affecting both upper and lower airways. The combustion of
fossil fuels containing sulfur is the main human activity which contributes to
sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. Australian fossil fuel has relatively small
amounts of sulfur, and as a result ambient sulfur dioxide concentrations in
Sydney are low. However, hot-pockets' of sulfur dioxide may be found around
smelters (page 10).
- Lead is a natural metal found in the earth's crust. Lead enters
the atmosphere mainly through leaded transport fuels and industrial point
sources, notably metal smelters. In the Sydney region, leaded petrol emissions
are the major contributor to airborne lead levels. Unleaded petrol was
introduced in 1985, and ambient lead levels in central Sydney have dropped
since then to below World Health Organisation goals. However, industrial
emissions of lead have resulted in ambient lead health goals being exceeded in
the Newcastle and Illawarra area (page 11).
- The name air toxics' is given to a large number of toxic
organic compounds including chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde,
chlorinated hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Pilot studies
done by the EPA indicates that motor vehicles are the major source of air
toxics in the region. Other sources include the petroleum and chemical
industries, emissions from waste incinerators, evaporative emissions from
petrol stations, spray painting, dry cleaners and other solvent use. The health
effects of air toxics' are serious and they may cause cancer, gene mutation,
reproductive malfunction, affect foetal development or have neuro-toxic effects
(page 11).
- In February 1998 the State Government released its air
pollution control strategy, called Action for Air. The strategy has seven
objectives: (pages 12-15)
- Integrate air quality goals and urban transport planning
- Provide more and better transport choices
- Make cars, trucks and buses cleaner
- Promote cleaner business
- Promote cleaner homes
- Manage the impact of open burning
- Monitor, report on and review air quality.
- Community, industry and government support is required if the
objectives in Action for Air are to be achieved. The NRMA initiative Clean Air
2000 campaign is likely to help increase support for the objectives in Action
for Air. The Clean Air 2000 campaign has been developed as a community based
progam that comprises two principal elements: encouraging individuals to adopt
cleaner motoring and more responsible travel practices; and improving
opportunities for transport choice by working with government, business,
industry and the community. The NRMA has brought together high profile
stakeholders from all sectors of the community to form the Clean Air 2000
Taskforce. The Taskforce is chaired by Mr Rod McGeoch. The Taskforce has
nominated four working groups to investigate areas where opportunities for
solutions lie. The Working Groups are: Infrastructure and Planning; Technology
and Fuels; Commuter and Fleet Travel Practices; and Pricing and Funding. The
Taskforce hopes to make air quality and public transport improvement become
amongst the top three issues at the 1999 NSW Government State election
(page16).
