Dear Friends of the Air,
There were 14 exceedences of PM 2.5 in Launceston in 2009, most associated with forestry logging burns(not to be mistaken for fuel reduction burns) Government endorsed additional forestry burning during times of expected poor air quality, exceedence and when wind was blowing directly onto civilisation. Statewide fumigation was also endorsed between 21-24 April.
See one entry from Smokewatch 2009 below(with photographs in attachment), a combined community smoke diary with known forestry, Parks and TFS burns listed.
Quality Air Tasmania
EVENT/EPISODE 5 FROM SMOKEWATCH 2009
WEEK OF 3 MAY / BREAK O DAY BURNS
A patient of mine rang this morning …
Dr ALISON BLEANEY, St Helen’s
To add to the story from Ella…. A patient of mine came this morning( may
7) and
told me about the awful night she had on Sunday(may 3)- could hardly breath and her asthma has been really bad ever since. Not only did the foul smelling pesticide spray (delivered by a boomspray tractor getting rid of weeds across the road from her house) flood her house, but now the acrid smoke from forestry burns east of here (seemingly not fuel load burns, but after
clearfelling) is invading St Helens with westerly winds and temperature inversions. She has gone home feeling ill, despondent and apprehensive. I am appalled at the lack of support that ordinary folk actually receive to prevent unwilling and unwitting exposure to known toxins; our preventative health strategy must do better than this. Letters to the media, to Ministers, to anyone that cares are needed; we need to support those most vulnerable in our communities, especially those already sick!
Tasmanian Times
5 May
1. Launceston & Patersonia
2. Smoky afternoon(SA) in L
3. Headaches in Launceston
4. Observations: Hazy in N in afternoon, smoke smell in L , FPA Website:2-12
logging burns, winds W, 10H,2 L,1 FR, 1 lit NW by 1 pm + 1 still alight NE
0170 KS Above: Launceston thick smoke haze despite warm day.
Forestry Burn Offs and Public Health On May 14th, 2009 Anonymous says:
5th May 2009
Break O Day Region St Helens
Fire and smoke continued for 8 days SM SA SE SN Fires were listed on Forestry Planned Burns website.
I have witnessed the recent terrible Forestry Tasmania burnoffs that have occurred in the week of the 5th May 2009 from my property which overlooks the coast line from Falmouth through to Flinders Island; I have not been able to see past Beaumaris due to the smoke haze from FT’s burnoffs.
Peter Power ( www.tapvision.info Smokewatch)
Download:
EVENT_5_SMOKEWATCH_2009.doc
Anji
