Environment
On what basis, Dr Taylor?
The ABC report (HERE) says that a critical review (by Dr Trevor Steele) of the earlier report (by A/Professor Richard Bentham) was commissioned by environmentalists.
The subtle implication, it seems, is that their agenda may have been more to do with trees than public health.
Not true ABC!
Dr Steele has been a world leader in Legionella ecology and epidemiology and he first described the growth of Legionella organisms in composts and potting mixes, why was this not mentioned?
The issue was always about public health.
My interest with this issue stems back to 2001 when I was informed of several people in the Burnie area who nearly died of Legionella infection.
On what basis does Dr Taylor dismiss the concerns raised by Dr Steele?
What air quality testing is being carried out in Burnie?
What are the results of this testing?
Are patients presenting to hospitals in Burnie with serious community acquired pneumonia getting the testing suggested by Dr Steele to detect Legionella infection?
How often are the water cooling towers of air conditioning systems in Burnie being monitored for Legionella organisms given that Dr Steele has proposed that the woodchip piles may act as a source for their contamination?
How long are the woodchips left standing on Burnie wharf before being moved?
Are Dr Taylor and A/Professor Bentham aware of a report that one the woodchip piles caught fire in the past? (heating is a sure sign of microbial activity in decomposing wood chips)
What precautions are being taken to avoid dust moving off the piles during loading? Are these precautions effective?
How does wood dust blown across affect people with asthma and sinusitis?
What is the risk of naso-pharyngeal cancer (the woodworkers cancer) for Burnie citizens inhaling wood dust over many years?
How much longer will the people of Burnie have put up with this situation?