SECRECY OVER ROSEBERY DUST DATA NEEDS TO END
On the 18th February, 2010 the Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania issued a Media Release calling on MMG and GHD to release the results of their previous environmental sampling programs, especially those conducted in 2007/2008 (see copy below).
To date the DHHS, EPA and MMG Rosebery mine have failed to publicly release this data.
Yesterday Kay Seltitzas held a Media Conference in Hobart and called for a meeting with Premier Lara Giddings and Minister Nick McKim to discuss the establishment of an Inquiry into the DHHS/EPA Rosebery investigations that would review three key issues that remain outstanding.
The first of these issues was to conduct a Review of all information on all emissions from MMG Rosebery mine for the last ten years.
After the recent Cradle Mountain Water revelations about lead in the reticulated drinking water supply in Rosebery it is now never more urgent to address the outstanding issues surrounding the secrecy over emissions data from the Rosebery mine.
It is now imperative that the denial and secrecy over dust as a potential pathway for inhalation of toxic metal dust by Rosebery residents is ended.
Information on the Australian Government Geoscience website shows just how possible it is to collect data to establish data from atmospheric deposition of dust from Rosebery and other mines on the west coast. This is just one method that could be used to collect data but this research highlights the extent of wind borne dispersal and deposition of toxic heavy metal contaminants over Tasmania.
This research from core samples taken in Lake Dora, north east of Queenstown, shows heavy metal contaminants that correlate with emissions originating from mining activities in either Queenstown, Zeehan or Rosebery prior to and post European occupation.
From Australian Government Geoscience Australia, OzCoasts – Australian Online Coastal Information, here:
http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/indicators/metal_contaminants.jsp
Profiles of trace metals in dated sediment cores can be used to show changes in trace metal influx pre- and post-European arrival.
Figure 2. Lead, arsenic and copper concentrations measured in a 9 cm sediment core extracted from Lake Dora, a subalpine tarn located 15 km NE of Queenstown in western Tasmania. The chronology was determined on the basis of high resolution 210Pb analysis of the top 6 cm of the core. Increased trace metal values between 1880 and 1900 correspond with the introduction of smelters in the region. The significant increase in concentrations from 1960 correlates well with the international boom in copper prices and consequent increased production at Queenstown. The metals are thought to have been derived from open cut mining spoils and deposited in Lake Dora through wind transport (see Harle et al., 2002 [17]). Analyses were carried out at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation as part of its Human Activity and Climate Variability Project. Contact Dr Kate Harle ([email protected]) for more information.
Why is it that the DHHS/EPA 2008-2010 investigations were unable to conduct any tests on atmospheric deposition in Rosebery, including isotopic testing, or publicly release any of the data provided to them by MMG on their own dust monitoring data required under their licensing agreement? How simple would that be?
*Pic: Marsha Stejskal’s house with MMG mines ventilation shaft emission plume behind – vent shaft location above Murchison Highway and west of Mountain Creek. How much dust deposition from here over the years in a valley prone to windy conditions and frequent inversions, asks Isla MacGregor.
In 2010 the Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce released the following Media Release:
Media Release 1pm Thursday 18th February 2010
MMG and GHD Must Release Results from 2007/2008 Investigations Into Health Risks Of Lead In Rosebery and Use Correct Dust Sampling Methods
Past Investigations:
The Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania has called on MMG and GHD to release the results of their previous environmental sampling programs, especially those conducted in 2007/2008.
Spokesperson for the Taskforce today said, “The company that is now called MMG released information in the Oz Minerals Environmental Management Plan Review September 2008 on research being conducted in late 2007/2008 by GHD consultants on the health risks of lead in the Rosebery environment. In the Environmental Management Plan Review, it stated on Page 84 Section 1.1.27.2 under the heading Background Community Blood Levels……………….that GHD have “been engaged to assist in the evaluation of lead as a health risk to the community….potential lead sources….including dust, surface water groundwater impact, rainwater, soil contamination and potential ingestion sources (i.e. fruit and vegetables).”
Whilst clearly deficient in that it was limited only to lead, no such evaluation has ever been released to the public. Does the Government have it?
MMG must release the previous data and results of its, and GHD’s, investigations so that the Rosebery community can understand any new data released from the new environmental sampling program in its proper context.
If the Rosebery community is to have any confidence in the credibility of the current GHD sampling program, then it needs to be compared with earlier sampling programs. The community needs to know if things are getting better or worse.
Sampling Methods:
We have received information from residents about the current dust sampling methods being used by GHD inside homes in Rosebery and we believe that method is not to the Australian Standard dust wipe methodology and is therefore flawed.
Elizabeth O’Brien, President of The LEAD Group Inc. in Sydney has provided us with the following advice on correct dust sampling methodology:
“There are two dust sampling techniques that are far more commonly used to determine heavy metal contamination levels in dust fall in living spaces emanating from a point source such as mining activity, and thus there are studies which can be used to assist in interpreting the results obtained by these two methods.
Since the publication of AS 4361.2 – 1998 Guide To Lead Paint Management – Part 2: Residential And Commercial Buildings, in 1998, lead levels found in dust wipe sampling of floors and window sills has been able to be responded to according to the “action levels” set in the Australian Standard, or, because the sampling methodology is the same, optimally, the response levels used by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (which are about twice as stringent as the Australian levels) can be acted on.
If the hypothesis is that dust from the ceiling void is getting into the home and causing heavy metal contamination inside the living space, then it is still recommended that dust wipe sampling by the AS 4361.2 methodology be used, on the floor underneath any visible signs of ceiling dust entering the living space eg on the floor
The second type of dust sampling, specifically used to determine contamination levels in dust fall from a point source over time, includes the dust tray method used by Mike van Alphen famously in the research paper “Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition Plumes Adjacent To A Primary Lead-Zinc Smelter” – this is the paper that put paid to the notion that all the heavy metal dust contamination in Port Pirie was from the historical lead smelting process, rather than current smelter emissions.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10535148&dopt=Abstract
The van Alphen tray method was no doubt inspired by the inside-the-house version of the dust tray method famously used by Professor Brian Gulson et al in Broken Hill in research published in a 1995 paper, i.e. the petri dish method for collecting dust fall over time. Along with the isotopic fingerprinting method, Gulson et al were able to conclude from their research that: “For Broken Hill, a strong correlation (r = 0.95) was obtained between the isotopic composition of lead in blood and dust-fall accumulation.”” http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(95)04505-U
Our Taskforce has been very concerned that MMG has refused to openly release the scope and methodology of their sampling program in Rosebery. It is very disappointing that, just prior to the first Reference Group meeting being held in Rosebery, the community discovers that MMG/GHD’s sampling program is already under a cloud.
According to John Lamb, General Manager at the Rosebery Mine, the EPA had considerable discussion with GHD on the scope and methodology of their new investigation in Rosebery. The previous EPA investigation failed in Rosebery and now, on its heels, the GHD investigation appears to be following suit.
Government Failure:
Our Government has failed again to do the right thing. It should conduct a truly independent population based public health and environmental survey in Rosebery. Australians have just seen on ABC’s Australian Story the fantastic efforts of Dr Alison Bleaney over contamination of the St Helens water supply despite government malaise and ridicule. It would be a terrible tragedy if Dr Andreas Ernst has to go through the same obstacles from the same Departments to have a truly independent population based health survey conducted in Rosebery,” said Kay Seltitzas.
Links to videos of of yesterday’s Media Conference:
• Paul O’Halloran: Call for independent oversight of Rosebery investigation
YESTERDAY ON TASMANIAN TIMES
• Apologise!
• Rosebery lead poisoning: Health heads must roll
