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Emission of air pollutants listed in the national pollutant inventory (NPI) in each air shed. Important pollutants include benzene, carbon monoxide, lead, oxides of nitrogen, particles, sulphur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. The emission of pollutants into the atmosphere leads to concentrations of gases and particles that have deleterious effects. These are important pollutants. This indicator is separated into the following parts (links are to the Data section): Emissions from facilities, including Tasmanian heavy industry Emissions from Hobart and Launceston airsheds
Data are being collected in Tasmania as part of the NPI. There are two types of reporting. First are those facilities that emit, or may emit, a reportable substance. The second type of reporting covers the diffuse pollution sources, particularly from urban areas. Facilities that emit, or may emit, a reportable substance must report on their emissions every year, even if it turns out there were no emissions. Environmental pressure indicators for air emissions are the contaminant mass emission rates at the stack or other point of discharge. There has been a staged introduction to the requirement to report, with many types of facilities and substances being voluntary for the first few years. Hence care should be taken when comparing the number of reporting facilities in each year. Increases in the early years is more likely to be an increase in the number of facilities reporting, rather than an increase in the number of facilities actually emitting those substances. Mass emission rates are assessed by industries in studies that underpin their environmental licence conditions, and if the annual emissions exceed specified thresholds they are reported to the National Pollutant Inventory database . Where direct measurements of contaminant mass emission rates are not available, they can be estimated using emission factor handbooks that have been developed by the National Environment Protection Council for a range of Australian industries. These handbooks are based in large part on established emission factor databases such as the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's AP-42 manual. Emissions from reporting facilities throughout Tasmania, 2000-01 The mass (kg) emitted to air per year and the number of facilities reporting 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 Substance Total kg (No. facilities reporting) Total kg (No. facilities reporting) Total kg (No. facilities reporting) Total for benzene 9,496 (18) 8,768 (22) 6,475 (19) Total for carbon monoxide 1,982,119 (21) 19,730,043 (62) 23,642,529 (54) Total for lead and compounds 81 (18) 4,274 (38) 3,192 (34) Total for oxides of nitrogen 1,013,631 (21) 5,462,514 (56) 5,579,947 (48) Total for particulate matter (less than 10 µm) 1,490,135 (20) 2,666,636 (55) 2,475,541 (48) Total for sulphur dioxide 2,781,566 (21) 7,818,796 (57) 8,739,851 (50) Total for total volatile organic compounds 238,303 (4) 1,113,297 (39) 766,365 (39) Source: National Pollutant Inventory The following table summarises the annual emissions of four contaminants reported by Tasmanian industries under the National Pollutant Inventory initiative. The contaminants are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), PM10 particles, and sulphur oxides (SOx). Each industry is associated with other facility-specific contaminants, but these four are fairly common. Annual emissions of four common airborne contaminants Reported by Tasmanian heavy and selected medium industry to the NPI, 2000-01 ('000 kg) CO NO
X
PM
10
SO
X
Norske Skog 330 550 30 580 Australian Cement Holdings 1,900 2,300 220 540 Pasminco Hobart Smelter 71 30 25 100 Comalco Aluminium (Bell Bay) 11,000 71 250 4,300 Goldamere (ABM - Savage River) 140 370 720 17 Goldamere (ABM - Port Latta) 760 480 220 890 Starwood Australia 16 49 120 2 TEMCO 6,900 73 410 4 Lactos 1 10 0 80 Renison Bell 39 81 28 4 Copper Mines of Tasmania 49 110 1 5 Cadbury Schweppes 30 6 6 64 Bonlac Foods - Spreyton 45 52 15 61 Australian Weaving Mills 28 15 2 42 Australian Paper: Wesley Vale and Burnie 1,110 460 9 1,330 Allstate Explorations - Beaconsfield 23 28 9 3 22,442 4,685 2,065 8,022 Source: National Pollutant Inventory The second type of reporting covers the diffuse pollution sources, particularly from urban areas. This method estimates the emissions from the known land use practices that occur in the area. For example, the release of benzene and carbon monoxide is estimated from the number of cars in an area and their average rates of emissions Modelling has been done for two air sheds in Tasmania: Launceston and Hobart. Concerns about the poor air quality in Launceston under certain atmospheric conditions means that the Launceston air shed has been particularly well studied. Environmental condition indicators are the measured or predicted concentrations of airborne contaminants in the workplace or in the atmosphere, interpreted by comparison to workplace air quality standards and ambient air quality standards. Over the past decade or so these standards have become more uniform across Australia and around the world, and Australian jurisdictions now base their ambient air standards on the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 1998. An Environment Protection Policy is being prepared to move Tasmania into better compliance with these standards, and the new policy specifically addresses the assessment of industrial emissions. Considering airborne particles, which are of particular concern in Tasmania due to emissions from domestic wood heaters, air quality standards in the 1980s were prescribed in terms of total suspended solids, but now they are set in terms of the very small particles that pose the greatest threat to human health. These particles are known as PM10 and PM2.5, meaning particles less than 10 µm and 2.5 µm in diameter respectively (1 µm is one thousandth of a millimetre). The standards are prescribed in terms of ground level concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5, averaged over a specified period (usually 24 hours). As well as specific reporting facilities, emissions from diffuse sources across two major Tasmanian air sheds have been estimated. The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment estimated emissions to the Launceston and Hobart air sheds for 1998-99. The same estimates have been used for each reporting year since. Emissions to Launceston and Hobart air sheds Estimated annual emissions of benzene to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed Industry (reporting facilities) Metal ore mining 0.36 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 2,600 1,900 Other wood product manufacturing 930 Public order and safety services 280 320 Total for industry (reporting facilities) 3 ,810.36 2,220 Industry (non-reporting facilities) Fuel combustion - sub reporting threshold facilities 3.8 12 Service stations 1,900 2,700 Total for industry (non-reporting facilities) 1,903.80 2,712 Other sources (non-reporting facilities) Architectural surface coatings 130 230 Backyard incinerators 460 3,700 Barbeques 0.45 Domestic/commercial solvents/aerosols 0.23 0.41 Gaseous fuel burning (domestic) 2.2 3.30 Lawn mowing 6,900 19,000 Liquid fuel burning (domestic) 0.020 0.15 Solid fuel burning (domestic) 100,000 170,000 Total for other sources (non-reporting facilities) 107,492.90 192,933.86 Transport (non-reporting facilities) Aeroplanes 170 100 Commercial shipping/boating 51 630 Motor vehicles 100,000 200,000 Railways 110 34 Recreational boating 2,000 21,000 Total for transport (non-reporting facilities) 102,331 221,764 Total emissions 215,538.06 419,629.86 Source: National Pollutant Inventory Estimated annual emissions of carbon monoxide to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed industry (reporting facilities) Basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing 7,100,000 1,300 Beverage and malt manufacturing 9,800 14,000 Ceramic product manufacturing 30,000 14,000 Electricity supply 530 Iron and steel manufacturing 6,900,000 Log sawmilling and timber dressing 21,000 29,000 Meat and meat product manufacturing 73,000 Metal ore mining 13,000 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 1,400 Other chemical product manufacturing 1,400 Other food manufacturing 25,000 Other wood product manufacturing 23,000 49,000 Paper and paper product manufacturing 550,000 Public order and safety services 1,300 2,800 Textile fibre, yarn and woven fabric manufacturing 2,200 Total for industry (reporting facilities) 14,173,030 688,700 Industry (non-reporting facilities) Fuel combustion - sub reporting threshold facilities 18,000 110,000 Total for industry (non-reporting facilities) 18,000 110,000 Other sources (non-reporting facilities) Backyard incinerators 16,000 130,000 Barbeques 230,000 Burning (fuel red., regen., agric.)/ wildfires 440,000 1,100,000 Gaseous fuel burning (domestic) 190 290 Lawn mowing 440,000 1,100,000 Liquid fuel burning (domestic) 480 3,500 Solid fuel burning (domestic) 13,000,000 21,000,000 Total for other sources (non-reporting facilities) 14,126,670 23,333,790 Transport (non-reporting facilities) Aeroplanes 80,000 180,000 Commercial shipping/boating 9,400 100,000 Motor vehicles 27,000,000 50,000,000 Railways 18,000 4,600 Recreational boating 120,000 1,200,000 Total for transport (non-reporting facilities) 27,227,400 51,484,600 Total emissions 55,545,100 75,617,090 Source: National Pollutant Inventory Estimated annual emissions of lead and compounds to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed Industry (reporting facilities) Basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing 1.60 900 Beverage and malt manufacturing 23 Ceramic product manufacturing 5.6 Iron and steel manufacturing 910 Log sawmilling and timber dressing 9.9 1.3 Meat and meat product manufacturing 4.7 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 0.4 Other chemical product manufacturing 0.42 Other food manufacturing 66 Other wood product manufacturing 41 1 Paper and paper product manufacturing 260 Total for industry (reporting facilities) 973.22 1,251.7 Industry (non-reporting facilities) Fuel combustion - sub reporting threshold facilities 1.6 4.3 Service stations 0.0084 0.013 Total for industry (non-reporting facilities) 1.6084 4.313 Other sources (non-reporting facilities) Barbeques 0.7 Burning (fuel red., regen., agric.)/ Wildfires 4.2 11 Gaseous fuel burning (domestic) 0.02 0.03 Lawn mowing 27 2.8 Liquid fuel burning (domestic) 0.14 1.1 Solid fuel burning (domestic) 20 34 Total for other sources (non-reporting facilities) 52.06 48.93 Transport (non-reporting facilities) Aeroplanes 31 Commercial shipping/boating 0.17 0.83 Motor vehicles 6,000 11,000 Paved/unpaved roads 490 950 Railways 0.098 0.024 Recreational boating 18 190 Total for transport (non-reporting facilities) 6,539.268 12,140.854 Total emissions 7,566.1564 13,445.797 Source: National Pollutant Inventory Estimated annual emissions of oxides of nitrogen to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed Industry (reporting facilities) Basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing 50,000 5,200 Beverage and malt manufacturing 5,900 18,000 Ceramic product manufacturing 1,600 3,300 Electricity supply 6,600 Iron and steel manufacturing 77,000 Log sawmilling and timber dressing 2,600 1,700 Meat and meat product manufacturing 16,000 Metal ore mining 29,000 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 15,000 Other chemical product manufacturing 36,000 Other food manufacturing 6,500 Other wood product manufacturing 65,000 3,500 Paper and paper product manufacturing 620,000 Textile fibre, yarn and woven fabric manufacturing 13,000 Total for industry (reporting facilities) 289,700 686,200 Industry (non-reporting facilities) Fuel combustion - sub reporting threshold facilities 47,000 130,000 Total for industry (non-reporting facilities) 47,000 130,000 Other sources (non-reporting facilities) Backyard incinerators 1,100 9,000 Barbeques 2,800 Burning (fuel red., regen., agric.)/ wildfires 30,000 70,000 Gaseous fuel burning (domestic) 1,400 2,100 Lawn mowing 2,200 4,800 Liquid fuel burning (domestic) 1,700 13,000 Solid fuel burning (domestic) 160,000 260,000 Total for other sources (non-reporting facilities) 199,200 358,900 Transport (non-reporting facilities) Aeroplanes 31,000 33,000 Commercial shipping/boating 110,000 950,000 Motor vehicles 2,900,000 4,900,000 Railways 140,000 32,000 Recreational boating 970 35,000 Total for transport (non-reporting facilities) 3,181,970 5,950,000 Total emissions 3,717,870 7,125,100 Source: National Pollutant Inventory Estimated annual emissions of particulate matter 10.0 µm to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed Industry (reporting facilities) Basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing 45,000 Beverage and malt manufacturing 120 12,000 Ceramic product manufacturing 1,000 12,000 Electricity supply 80 Iron and steel manufacturing 610,000 Log sawmilling and timber dressing 4,800 7,600 Meat and meat product manufacturing 17,000 Metal ore mining 6,300 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 270 Other chemical product manufacturing 850 Other food manufacturing 6,200 Other wood product manufacturing 150,000 240 Paper and paper product manufacturing 76,000 Textile fibre, yarn and woven fabric manufacturing 410 Total for industry (reporting facilities) 835,150 114,720 Industry (non-reporting facilities) Fuel combustion - sub reporting threshold facilities 32,000 85,000 Total for industry (non-reporting facilities) 32,000 85,000 Other sources (non-reporting facilities) Backyard incinerators 7,100 57,000 Barbeques 3,200 Burning (fuel red., regen., agric.)/ wildfires 74,000 190,000 Gaseous fuel burning (domestic) 39 60 Lawn mowing 3,000 8,500 Liquid fuel burning (domestic) 2,500 19,000 Solid fuel burning (domestic) 1,200,000 2,100,000 Total for other sources (non-reporting facilities) 1,289,839 2,374,560 Transport (non-reporting facilities) Aeroplanes 5,500 2,500 Commercial shipping/boating 2,700 13,000 Motor vehicles 120,000 180,000 Paved/unpaved roads 520,000 1,000,000 Railways 3,300 800 Recreational boating 120 3,500 Total for transport (non-reporting facilities) 651,620 1,199,800 Total emissions 2,808,609 3,774,080 Source: National Pollutant Inventory Estimated annual emissions of sulphur dioxide to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed Industry (reporting facilities) Basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing 3,500,000 92,000 Beverage and malt manufacturing 55,000 36,000 Ceramic product manufacturing 600 7,700 Electricity supply 10,000 Iron and steel manufacturing 40,000 Log sawmilling and timber dressing 460 290 Meat and meat product manufacturing 700 Metal ore mining 2,900 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 1,500 Other chemical product manufacturing 1,300 Other food manufacturing 47,000 Other wood product manufacturing 3,200 240 Paper and paper product manufacturing 590,000 Textile fibre, yarn and woven fabric manufacturing 28 Total for industry (reporting facilities) 3,614,160 774,758 Industry (non-reporting facilities) Fuel combustion - sub reporting threshold facilities 190,000 340,000 Total for industry (non-reporting facilities) 190,000 340,000 Other sources (non-reporting facilities) Backyard incinerators 190 1,500 Barbeques 470 Gaseous fuel burning (domestic) 0.0000078 0.000012 Lawn mowing 360 450 Liquid fuel burning (domestic) 45,000 330,000 Solid fuel burning (domestic) 29,000 42,000 Total for other sources (non-reporting facilities) 75,020 373,950* Transport (non-reporting facilities) Aeroplanes 1,500 2,500 Commercial shipping/boating 83,000 2,700 Motor vehicles 54,000 93,000 Railways 6,000 1,400 Recreational boating 230 3,700 Total for transport (non-reporting facilities) 144,730 103,300 Total emissions 4,023,910 1,592,008 Source: National Pollutant Inventory Estimated annual emissions of total volatile organic compounds to air from all sources, 1998-99 - 2000-01 Caption: The mass (kg) emitted to air per year in each air shed Source Launceston air shed Hobart air shed Industry (reporting facilities) Beverage and malt manufacturing 320 Electricity supply 86 Log sawmilling and timber dressing 4,600 530 Meat and meat product manufacturing 1,200 Metal ore mining 2,900 Mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling 160,000 130,000 Other chemical product manufacturing 200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
