❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Health regarding the monitoring of PM2.5 particulates, particularly in relation to Verve Energy's operations in Collie and quarrying activities near residential areas. The Minister's responses indicate limited direct involvement of the Department of Health in air quality monitoring, deferring to other departments.
AnsweredQoN 6160Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware that it is widely accepted that fine particles of PM2.5 or less pose a significant risk to human health because, when inhaled, they may reach the peripheral regions of the bronchioles and interfere with gas exchange inside the lungs?
(2) Is the Department of Health sampling for any particulates of PM2.5 or smaller in any air quality monitoring in Western Australia?
(3) If no to (1), what is the Minister's understanding of the risks posed by PM2.5 particulates?
(4) If yes to (2), please provide full details of this monitoring and results from the monitoring.
(5) If no to (2), why not?
(6) Does the Department of Health receive the results of Verve Energy's monitoring in Collie?
(7) If yes to (6), please provide these results?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Is the Minister concerned about the lack of monitoring of fine particles in quarrying activities near residential housing?
(10) What air monitoring guidelines form the basis for the dust management plan for the sandstone quarry, situated on Irishtown Road, near Donnybrook?
(11) Is the Minister satisfied that the guidelines used by the Department of Mines and Industry complies with the World Health Organisation Summary of Risk Assessment, Global update 2005 - WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen, dioxide and sulfur dioxide?
(Available here:
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_SDE_PHE_OEH_06.02_eng.pdf
)
(2) Is the Department of Health sampling for any particulates of PM2.5 or smaller in any air quality monitoring in Western Australia?
(3) If no to (1), what is the Minister's understanding of the risks posed by PM2.5 particulates?
(4) If yes to (2), please provide full details of this monitoring and results from the monitoring.
(5) If no to (2), why not?
(6) Does the Department of Health receive the results of Verve Energy's monitoring in Collie?
(7) If yes to (6), please provide these results?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Is the Minister concerned about the lack of monitoring of fine particles in quarrying activities near residential housing?
(10) What air monitoring guidelines form the basis for the dust management plan for the sandstone quarry, situated on Irishtown Road, near Donnybrook?
(11) Is the Minister satisfied that the guidelines used by the Department of Mines and Industry complies with the World Health Organisation Summary of Risk Assessment, Global update 2005 - WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen, dioxide and sulfur dioxide?
(Available here:
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_SDE_PHE_OEH_06.02_eng.pdf
)
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
27 days
(1) Yes.
(2) No.
(3-4) Not applicable.
(5) Air quality sampling for particulate matter is undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
(6) No.
(7) Not applicable.
(8) The Department of Environment and Conservation licences the facility. No results for the Verve Energy plant have been forwarded to the Department of Health.
(9) No. Dust monitoring generally measures particulates up to 10 microns in size (PM10) which includes PM2.5. The results are compared to national dust standards.
(10-11) This question needs to be referred to the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) as the Department of Health has not been asked to comment on any dust management plans or guidelines for the Irishtown Road quarry. Monitoring results will be compared to Australian standards.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(2) No.
(3-4) Not applicable.
(5) Air quality sampling for particulate matter is undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
(6) No.
(7) Not applicable.
(8) The Department of Environment and Conservation licences the facility. No results for the Verve Energy plant have been forwarded to the Department of Health.
(9) No. Dust monitoring generally measures particulates up to 10 microns in size (PM10) which includes PM2.5. The results are compared to national dust standards.
(10-11) This question needs to be referred to the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) as the Department of Health has not been asked to comment on any dust management plans or guidelines for the Irishtown Road quarry. Monitoring results will be compared to Australian standards.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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