❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses the assessment and regulation of airborne mercury in Perth and Collie, particularly concerning emissions from coal-fired power stations and other industrial sources. It highlights the lack of specific Australian standards and reliance on WHO guidelines.
AnsweredQoN 1639Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What assessments have been made for airborne mercury in Perth’s airshed?
(2) Recognising that coal-fired power stations can be significant emitters of mercury in their exhaust gases what assessments have been made for airborne mercury in Collie’s airshed?
(3) What is the acceptable maximum content of mercury in air within Western Australia and Australia?
(2) Recognising that coal-fired power stations can be significant emitters of mercury in their exhaust gases what assessments have been made for airborne mercury in Collie’s airshed?
(3) What is the acceptable maximum content of mercury in air within Western Australia and Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
69 days
An Environment Australia review in 2001 found that no ambient monitoring programs for airborne mercury had been undertaken anywhere in Australia. A recent Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed Global Olivine waste incinerator in 2000 addressed emissions of mercury in its Health Risk Assessment. (2) No assessments have been made for airborne mercury in the Collie airshed. However, past investigations have shown that the mercury content of Western Australian coal is relatively low by world standards. Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
(2) No assessments have been made for airborne mercury in the Collie airshed. However, past investigations have shown that the mercury content of Western Australian coal is relatively low by world standards. Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
However, past investigations have shown that the mercury content of Western Australian coal is relatively low by world standards. Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
(3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
(2) No assessments have been made for airborne mercury in the Collie airshed. However, past investigations have shown that the mercury content of Western Australian coal is relatively low by world standards. Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
However, past investigations have shown that the mercury content of Western Australian coal is relatively low by world standards. Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
Any new projects in Western Australia are assessed in accordance with a detailed consideration of potential health hazards. Proposals for new emission sources must include an assessment of all pollutants emitted, including mercury and heavy metals, using a risk based approach. The Environmental Protection Authority also requires that proponents include Best Practice in terms of facility design and emission control. (3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
(3) The acceptable maximum content of mercury in ambient air within Western Australia is that level which does not endanger human health. To this end, the Department of Environment and the Department of Health, by a mutually agreed protocol, make reference to health guidelines and air quality standards from a range of authorities. In the absence of an appropriate Australian guideline or standard, reference is first made to relevant guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO). For airborne mercury, the WHO guideline for protection of human health is 1 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m3) (annual average), based on renal effects as the human health endpoint. This guideline was used in the Global Olivine Health Risk Assessment. In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
In general, a risk based approach is encouraged in making environmental assessments, which will take into account all relevant exposure pathways. In the case of mercury, the risk presented by the airborne load may be less relevant than that posed by oral ingestion.
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