Peg Putt Press Release
Peg Putt MHA
Greens Opposition Leader
Thursday, 5 OCTOBER 2006
DRAMATIC IMPACTS OF FINE PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTANTS ON HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT
Gunns IIS Deficient
The Tasmanian Greens today launched the third volume of their submission to Gunns’ draft Integrated Impact Statement on the proposed Bell Bay Pulp Mill, comprising a consultant’s report on the impacts on air quality in the Tamar Valley and ensuing human health risks.
Greens Opposition Leader Peg Putt MHA and Pulp Mill spokesperson Kim Booth MHA introduced Aron Gingis MBA, Dip Eng, the principle author of a study which exposes flaws in the application of airshed modelling for Gunns, utilises satellite data to dramatically illustrate the impacts of current air pollution in the Tamar Valley, and highlights the worrying health impacts of fine particulates not measured or adequately considered in the IIS studies.
“This report exposes that weight-for-weight fine and ultrafine particulates emitted to the air are much more toxic than the coarse, insoluble PM10 particles measured for Gunns, and that PM10 cannot be used as a surrogate for ultra-fine particle concentration measurements,” Ms Putt said.
“Disturbingly, we must focus on children suffering because these fine and ultra-fine particles are particularly toxic and carcinogenic at the stage of rapid tissue growth and cell development and often have immediate and cumulative effect, so they obviously must not be ignored as has occurred in the current inadequate assessment.”
“The dramatic satellite images in this report illustrate current air pollutants affecting the Tamar Valley air shed and the City of Launceston meaning people are already breathing the most polluted air in Tasmania, and that any further emissions are unacceptable,” Mr Booth said.
The report states that the failure to measure and address the serious health and environmental impacts of fine particles could result in shutting down the pulp mill or having to relocate Launceston.
“Also of importance to the region is the effect of this air pollution in inhibiting rainfall, especially in the north-east, and that even drier conditions may eventuate as a result of pulp mill air emissions being added to the current load.”
“There is a clear need for further research to be conducted on both these worrying impacts on health and the environment, and we say that it would be irresponsible if the RPDC did not ensure that further studies are undertaken on what comes down to issues of life and death, and of the sustainability of nearby regions reliant on adequate rainfall.”
“A pulp mill simply should not be allowed to be built in the Tamar Valley,” Mr Booth concluded.
View all 3 volumes on the Tasmanian Greens’ website: tas.greens.org.au/publications/submissions/2006Sep25-SUBMISSION-PULP_MILL_DRAFT_IIS-VOLUME_3-web.pdf
