❓ A parliamentary question regarding a national study on air pollutants (BTEX) reveals Perth residents have lower exposure compared to other major Australian cities, attributed to stringent fuel standards. The minister urges the opposition to support these standards.
AnsweredQoN 1042Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I understand that a recent national study has revealed that Perth residents were less exposed to toxic air pollutants than residents in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. What was the nature of the study and what is the likely reason that Perth residents are less exposed to these toxic compounds? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. This was a very important study because it measured the exposure of people in the community to BTEX, which include the air toxins of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The study involved 200 volunteers wearing a little instrument like a pen in winter and summer. People came from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The results showed that Perth residents had an average lower exposure to BTEX than people in any of the other cities. Those results were somewhat surprising to the scientists involved. They believe that the most likely explanation is our stringent fuel standards. Our very strict fuel standards limit the amount of benzene. It would appear that is the reason that the BTEX study has shown such good results for Perth. I am aware that some members of the Opposition have called for fuel standards to be altered to increase some of the toxins in fuel. I would urge them to take account of this study and to see that in Perth we are doing well as a result of the measures put in place. I ask them to stand by and support the quite stringent fuel standards that we have in this State.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. This was a very important study because it measured the exposure of people in the community to BTEX, which include the air toxins of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The study involved 200 volunteers wearing a little instrument like a pen in winter and summer. People came from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The results showed that Perth residents had an average lower exposure to BTEX than people in any of the other cities. Those results were somewhat surprising to the scientists involved. They believe that the most likely explanation is our stringent fuel standards. Our very strict fuel standards limit the amount of benzene. It would appear that is the reason that the BTEX study has shown such good results for Perth. I am aware that some members of the Opposition have called for fuel standards to be altered to increase some of the toxins in fuel. I would urge them to take account of this study and to see that in Perth we are doing well as a result of the measures put in place. I ask them to stand by and support the quite stringent fuel standards that we have in this State.
I thank the member for the question. This was a very important study because it measured the exposure of people in the community to BTEX, which include the air toxins of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The study involved 200 volunteers wearing a little instrument like a pen in winter and summer. People came from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The results showed that Perth residents had an average lower exposure to BTEX than people in any of the other cities. Those results were somewhat surprising to the scientists involved. They believe that the most likely explanation is our stringent fuel standards. Our very strict fuel standards limit the amount of benzene. It would appear that is the reason that the BTEX study has shown such good results for Perth. I am aware that some members of the Opposition have called for fuel standards to be altered to increase some of the toxins in fuel. I would urge them to take account of this study and to see that in Perth we are doing well as a result of the measures put in place. I ask them to stand by and support the quite stringent fuel standards that we have in this State.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. This was a very important study because it measured the exposure of people in the community to BTEX, which include the air toxins of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The study involved 200 volunteers wearing a little instrument like a pen in winter and summer. People came from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The results showed that Perth residents had an average lower exposure to BTEX than people in any of the other cities. Those results were somewhat surprising to the scientists involved. They believe that the most likely explanation is our stringent fuel standards. Our very strict fuel standards limit the amount of benzene. It would appear that is the reason that the BTEX study has shown such good results for Perth. I am aware that some members of the Opposition have called for fuel standards to be altered to increase some of the toxins in fuel. I would urge them to take account of this study and to see that in Perth we are doing well as a result of the measures put in place. I ask them to stand by and support the quite stringent fuel standards that we have in this State.
I thank the member for the question. This was a very important study because it measured the exposure of people in the community to BTEX, which include the air toxins of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The study involved 200 volunteers wearing a little instrument like a pen in winter and summer. People came from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The results showed that Perth residents had an average lower exposure to BTEX than people in any of the other cities. Those results were somewhat surprising to the scientists involved. They believe that the most likely explanation is our stringent fuel standards. Our very strict fuel standards limit the amount of benzene. It would appear that is the reason that the BTEX study has shown such good results for Perth. I am aware that some members of the Opposition have called for fuel standards to be altered to increase some of the toxins in fuel. I would urge them to take account of this study and to see that in Perth we are doing well as a result of the measures put in place. I ask them to stand by and support the quite stringent fuel standards that we have in this State.
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