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Objective

Recommendation

Key issues

What has been achieved 1998-2003

Tasmania Together

Further and related recommendations

Related Issue Reports

Objective

To ensure that Tasmanians are not exposed to unacceptable levels of atmospheric pollutants.

Recommendation

It is recommended that a strategic plan is established for improving air quality, which should be based on the following priorities:

• finalise the Environment Protection Policy and prepare the required strategic plan for improving ambient air quality (high priority); and
   
• continue the wood-smoke mitigation program in Launceston and extend the program to other regions (medium priority).
   

Key issues

The Atmosphere Chapter sets out a range of issues affecting the health, environment and economic wellbeing of Tasmanians and provides an overview of the characteristics of the atmosphere and climate. The chapter also describes the global and regional changes and trends affecting Tasmania, and highlights the condition of the State's air quality and the pressures placed upon it.

This key recommendation relates to air quality issues. However, there are a number of other important atmosphere issues for Tasmania-such as how the Tasmanian community adapts and responds to climate change-that are not covered by this key recommendation. Further recommendations on these matters can be accessed from the table at the foot of this page.

Some of the points to emerge from the 'At a glance' sections for air quality issues include the following.

• Particulate Pollution: Particulate pollution is the major air quality issue for Tasmania. Large and small particles transported through the air can affect human health, cause damage to property and contaminate soil and water. Between 1997 and 2002, the annual average PM₁₀ concentration, measured at Ti Tree Bend in Launceston, has decreased from 34 to 19 µg/m3 (a 44% reduction). While there are still exceedences of the Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM), the number of days exceeding the 24-hour standard has reduced from 51 to 14. There has been a marked improvement in the severity of poor air quality incidents, and the target of no more than five exceedences a year is much closer to being achieved. Preliminary results for 2003 suggest that there were 23 exceedences of the Air NEPM standard, reflecting the colder and wetter winter in comparison with recent years, and the 5 exceedences associated with either bushfires or planned burns. It is acknowledged that air quality in Hobart may vary due to changes in topography and micro-climate, and there is some preliminary evidence to suggest that some parts of Hobart have poorer air quality than that recorded at the Prince of Wales Bay monitoring station. Little is known at present about population centres other than Hobart and Launceston, or about smaller particle concentrations.
   
• Air Toxics: Air toxics cover a number of substances that affect human and environmental health. These include benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins. While there are sufficient data to know that there may be a problem (through the National Pollutant Inventory), the magnitude and location of the problem is unknown. Guideline levels for air toxics have not been defined for Australia.
   
• Carbon Monoxide: Hobart has had problems with carbon monoxide pollution in the past, and the current monitoring is not conclusive about the magnitude of the problem.
   
• Transport Emissions: Tasmania does not have sufficiently large urban centres for emissions to air from transport to be a leading environmental concern, although transport is a consideration in the total exposure of the population to air pollution.
   
• Heavy Industrial Emissions to Air: The National Pollutant Inventory identifies heavy industry as being the principal source of some pollutants (e.g. sulphur dioxide).
   
• Commercial and Residential Indoor Air Quality: Common indoor air pollutants have been shown to cause health problems. Indoor areas with poor ventilation may allow the concentration of potentially harmful substances to build up. Pollutants may be physical, chemical, organic, inorganic, biological, or a combination.
   

What has been achieved 1998-2003

A number of management actions have been undertaken since the previous SoE Report. These contribute to meeting the objective of reducing the total exposure of humans to air pollutants (indoor and outdoor). There is a vital need to build on these initiatives and those in the process of being developed. Actions that have been taken include:

• The Draft Environment Protection Policy on Air Quality (September 2001) was reviewed by the Environment Protection Policy Review Panel and, at the time of wrting this SoE Report, it is expected to be recommended for introduction as policy in mid-2003.
   
• Air quality monitoring, assessment and reporting for particulates, as required under the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure, commenced for Hobart and continued, with upgraded monitoring facilities, in Launceston.
   
• The National Environment Protection Council is currently developing a variation to the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure to extend its coverage to PM_2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in size).
   
• A wood-smoke mitigation program, including wood heater buy-back, has been established in Launceston. By September 2003, this program had resulted in 1,500 wood heater replacements and distribution of 700 cards warning of excessively smoky chimneys.
   
• Smoking has been banned in many enclosed public spaces.
   
• Mandatory reporting was established in 2002 on 90 substance emissions by industries in Tasmania (under Section 43 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994, as part of the National Pollutant Inventory).
   
• An Ambient Air Toxics National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) is being developed.
   
• A NEPM for Diesel-Engined Vehicles has been introduced.
   
• Environmental Improvement Programs were implemented at a number of industrial facilities.
   
• A number of local councils, including Hobart City Council, have banned backyard burning, although it is still permitted in Launceston.
   

A number of initiatives are presently being developed. For example, the Department of Environment and Heritage, through the CSIRO and DPIWE, are conducting a Personal Exposure Monitoring Program in Launceston (started in early 2003). The program aims to monitor the total exposure of a sample group of individuals to air pollutants and compare the results with those from the current air quality monitoring station.

Current research must help to inform such work to further improve air quality monitoring, reporting, and the enforcement of set standards to reduce the total exposure of humans to air pollutants. This is particularly necessary for indoor air quality, which has received little attention to date, but has a significant influence upon the lives of all Tasmanians.

The scope of the air quality strategic plan proposed in the recommendation should include:

• a program for meeting NEPM requirements;
• Environmental Protection Policy implementation;
• public education campaigns;
• an enforcement policy;
• a wood-heater replacement program;
• the regulation of firewood moisture content; and
• other measures and activities.

Tasmania Together

Relevant Tasmania Together goals and standards for 'Atmosphere' are listed in the linked file. The Tasmania Together Progress Board reported on progress toward targets for benchmarks set (Tasmania Together Progress Board 2003). Indicators, targets and baseline data are available in the latest Progress Report June 2003. Further information, including progress report updates, is available from Tasmania Together.

Further and related recommendations

Related Issue Reports