❓ A parliamentary question addresses concerns about increased hydrogen fluoride emissions from Midland Brick due to a reinterpretation of pollution measurement, questioning potential health impacts. The Minister acknowledges the increased limit but assures no health damage has occurred.
AnsweredQoN 431Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HYDROGEN FLUORIDE IN ATMOSPHERE
Notice of this question was given on 20 June. (1) Why has the emission of the toxic pollutant hydrogen fluoride into the Perth atmosphere been allowed to rise because of the former Minister for the Environment’s decision in appeal 289 of 2003 of the Environmental Protection Authority to “reinterpret” the measure of pollution so that it is taken per stack instead of per site? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that this allows the total emissions of hydrogen fluoride to increase for every stack or kiln on the site, with no limit on total output? (3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN
Notice of this question was given on 20 June. (1) Why has the emission of the toxic pollutant hydrogen fluoride into the Perth atmosphere been allowed to rise because of the former Minister for the Environment’s decision in appeal 289 of 2003 of the Environmental Protection Authority to “reinterpret” the measure of pollution so that it is taken per stack instead of per site? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that this allows the total emissions of hydrogen fluoride to increase for every stack or kiln on the site, with no limit on total output? (3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(1) Why has the emission of the toxic pollutant hydrogen fluoride into the Perth atmosphere been allowed to rise because of the former Minister for the Environment’s decision in appeal 289 of 2003 of the Environmental Protection Authority to “reinterpret” the measure of pollution so that it is taken per stack instead of per site? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that this allows the total emissions of hydrogen fluoride to increase for every stack or kiln on the site, with no limit on total output? (3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(2) Does the minister acknowledge that this allows the total emissions of hydrogen fluoride to increase for every stack or kiln on the site, with no limit on total output? (3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(1) Why has the emission of the toxic pollutant hydrogen fluoride into the Perth atmosphere been allowed to rise because of the former Minister for the Environment’s decision in appeal 289 of 2003 of the Environmental Protection Authority to “reinterpret” the measure of pollution so that it is taken per stack instead of per site? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that this allows the total emissions of hydrogen fluoride to increase for every stack or kiln on the site, with no limit on total output? (3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(2) Does the minister acknowledge that this allows the total emissions of hydrogen fluoride to increase for every stack or kiln on the site, with no limit on total output? (3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(3) What damage could this be causing to the health of the residents of Perth? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
The answer to the question is as follows - (1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(1) In response to appeal decision 289, changes were made to the Midland Brick licence in 2004 that allowed a change of emissions from one gram per second for the whole plant to one gram per second per kiln, or five grams per second total. The department is in the process of reviewing the licence to restore the one gram per second limit for the plant. (2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(2) Under the current licence, the total emission limit is five grams per second. Monitoring data suggests total emissions were up to 2.7 grams per second. (3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
(3) No damage to human health could have arisen from these changes. The ambient fluoride guidelines are aimed at protecting vines, which are particularly vulnerable to fluoride emissions. The maximum measured ambient fluoride concentration measured inside the brickworks site was 2.3 micrograms per cubic metre. Hydrogen fluoride is an irritant for humans at concentrations above 600 micrograms per cubic metre for periods of one hour. The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission time-weighted average - eight hour - exposure standard is 2 600 micrograms per cubic metre. I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
I am sure everyone found that very interesting!
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