Toxic Alarm

Newcastle Herald

Monday November 24, 2008

MATTHEW KELLY ENVIRONMENT

THOUSANDS of tonnes of poisonous oxides of nitrogen are being pumped into the air over the Upper Hunter and Lake Macquarie despite warnings about their health effects.

The oxides, which include nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide, are ranked at the top of the National Pollutant Inventory's list of toxic substances.

Data supplied by industry monitoring to the national inventory shows that 53,000 tonnes of oxides of nitrogen (known as NOxs) were emitted in the Muswellbrook local government area in 2006-07 and 44,000 tonnes were produced in the Lake Macquarie local government area.

Coal-fired power stations produced most of the gases.

By comparison, 3700 tonnes were produced in the City of Sydney local government area, primarily from motor vehicle emissions.

A recently completed study by the US Environment Protection Authority found the effects from exposure to NOxs were more severe than thought.

Previous research was not able to make definitive conclusions that short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide caused respiratory problems.

The latest report concluded there was evidence "sufficient to infer a likely causal relationship".

Despite the overall volume of NOx emissions in Muswellbrook and Lake Macquarie, Hunter New England Health population health

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physician David Durrheim said more information was needed about the concentrations to which communities were exposed.

"It's the concentrations that are important," Dr Durrheim said.

"It's clear there would be immense value in improved monitoring close to communities in those areas.

"It's only then that one would be better able to explore the links between occurrence of illness rate and actual concentrations."

The Department of Environment and Climate Change monitors NOx levels at Newcastle, Beresfield and Wallsend.

Department of Environment and Climate Change regional manager Grahame Clarke said no instances of NOx emission levels exceeding regulatory standards had been reported since monitoring began 15 years ago.

"Power stations are also required to monitor NOx emissions to comply with the clean air plant and equipment regulations," Mr Clarke said.

"They are pretty tight restrictions, pretty much the same as California, USA. In real terms they are large emissions but they are in the standards that are required."

WHAT ARE OXIDES OF NITROGEN

? Oxides of nitrogen are gases made up of nitrogen and oxygen. Two of the most toxic compounds are nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.

? Low levels of oxides of nitrogen can irritate eyes, nose, throat and lungs, possibly leading to coughing, shortness of breath, tiredness and nausea.

? Breathing high levels can cause burning, spasms and swelling in the throat, reduced oxygenation of tissues, a build-up of fluid in the lungs and death.

Source: National Pollutant Inventory

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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