Posted
Residents in a central Queensland mining town that
has seen elevated levels of dust say more needs to be done to ensure it
is not coming from nearby mining operations.
Key points:
- High levels of microscopic dust particles were recorded in the town of Moranbah in 2018
- It was due to lower-than-average rainfall leading to more frequent dust storms and bushfire smoke, according to the Department of Environment and Science
- Residents are concerned about the impact on their health, and want assurances the dust is not coming from nearby mines
Figures from the Department of Environment and Science show annual average levels of microscopic dust, known as PM10, were consistently above state guidelines at Moranbah.
PM10 are airborne particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter. They are small enough to enter the lungs, and can potentially cause respiratory problems and increase the risk of heart disease if high levels of the particles are inhaled over a long period of time.
The figures show the 24-hour average guideline was exceeded 19 times in 2018 and the annual average was 30.1 µg/m³, 20 per cent higher than the recommended level.
A spokesperson for the department said PM10 exceeded the guidelines in 2018 due to lower-than-average rainfall and dry conditions.
"These conditions have resulted in more frequent dust storms and bushfire smoke, as well as increased hazard-reduction burning to reduce [the] bushfire risk in the region," the spokesperson said.
Family considers moving 2.5 hours away
Mother-of-two Tegan Hillier, who has lived in Moranbah with her partner for five years, said she was kept busy keeping dust out of her home."It's just everywhere," she said.
"I wash my car and within a couple of hours it's got a film of dust on it.
"I wash my deck and it's dusty straight away. It's a full-time job in itself keeping the house dust-free."
She suffers from chronic sinusitis and said the symptoms had become more noticeable recently, causing her to consider moving to Mackay — more than two hours away from her partner's work.
"My husband and I have been discussing relocating possibly to Mackay based on the dust issue, for no other reason," she said."We love it here, it's a great community … but unfortunately with [our] health suffering the way it is, it might not be worth staying," Ms Hillier said.
"My children suffer with a lot of sinusitis issues as well, itchiness in the eyes and the nose and just constant sneezing, which they've never had before."
Ms Hillier said she believed dust was to be expected given the proximity to mining sites.
Guy Marks, a respiratory physician from the University of New South Wales, said PM10 appeared in the atmosphere naturally, but levels could be increased through human activity.
"Usually in mining where there is coal or any other mining process, there is not just the product that's being mined but a lot of earth essentially … that has to be drilled or exploded or some other way moved and that reduces it to a dust form," Professor Marks said.
"Those dust particles are of varying sizes. Many are larger than 10 microns in diameter, but some can be smaller than 10 microns in diameter and able to be inhaled.
"Those levels are relatively high compared to levels we would like to see.
"Not that any individual is at great risk but across the whole population there would be more risk of adverse health effects with higher levels of exposure."Professor Marks said high levels of PM10 and the smaller PM2.5 could be harmful if inhaled over a long period of time.
"[Larger particles] tend to deposit in the airways and are probably more associated with respiratory problems, lung disease, asthma, respiratory infections," he said.
"Smaller particles go deeper into the lungs and may in fact even enter into the circulation and they have effects that spread beyond the lungs … increasing the risk of heart disease, vascular disease, blood vessel disease but particularly strokes and heart attacks."
Dust levels at nearby mine sites 'terrifying': CFMEU
Stephen Smyth, from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), said he was concerned about the PM10 recordings in Moranbah given the activity at nearby open-cut coal mines.He said a lack of visibility at open-cut mines was regularly reported to the union.
"It's terrifying and obviously it's worrying that people are prepared to work in that sort of dust," he said.
"I've had a number of [workers] send through photos of what's happening at their mine site in relation to dust and I got one … where you couldn't even see the equipment in use.
"If you're not controlling dust at the source then you're going to have that flow-on effect or ripple effect where … that dust or the products or what's being produced will unfortunately flow into the community. That's just totally unacceptable."
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the mining industry was governed by rigorous health and safety regulations.
"The resources industry works closely with the Government to ensure appropriate monitoring of dust levels," Mr Macfarlane said.
"Mines report quarterly data on dust levels to the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy's chief inspector of coal mines."
'What's in it?': Residents want more dust monitoring
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Science said weather patterns were analysed to determine the likely cause of elevated levels in 2018."To determine how much of the dust from mining activities might contribute to the level of PM10 measured, wind direction and speed are monitored at the site.
"[Elevated levels] have been attributed to a combination of emission sources including bushfires, dust storm events, and planned hazard reduction burns."
Professor Marks said while it was common to use weather patterns to determine what caused spikes in levels, more information could be provided.
"In terms of long-term-exposure sources in mining communities, there are a range of different potential sources of dust that could be investigated," he said.
"The only way really of knowing that for certain is by doing some sort of chemical analysis of the particles."It's important if you have measurements, to understand what they mean, to understand how they relate to population exposure, to understand what the contributing factors to the emissions that you're making are, and to have a plan for what needs to be done to mitigate those emissions if necessary."
The department said the instrument in Moranbah was very sensitive and measured very small amounts of PM10 particles.
"It would not be possible to use this instrument to gather a sufficient sample for chemical analysis at a laboratory," it said.
Ms Hillier said the community wanted assurances.
"I put something on my own Facebook page a while ago sharing the screenshot of the dust monitor and so many people were following and tagging other friends to check the post out, so lots of people are concerned," she said.
"They're saying it's PM10 but what exactly is it made from? What's in it? Why are they not measuring PM2.5 as well, which is even worse again?
"It definitely has something to do with the dust as it's in the dry country, but the fact is we are in a mining town and the mines are getting closer to town, so it can't just be blamed on natural dust."
The department said an updated instrument capable of measuring PM2.5 was due to be installed later this year.
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