Published Wednesday, 09 July, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Air emissions at a glance
A new report will allow Queenslanders to see at a glance an overall picture of emissions into Queensland’s air.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, today released the Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card at the launch of upgraded air testing facilities at the EPA air quality monitoring station at Rocklea.
Mr McNamara said that the Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card highlighted that for the last 25 years in Queensland there has been continual improvement of air quality.
“This is due to strategies that reduce emissions of key pollutants into the atmosphere,” Mr McNamara said.
“The report shows Queensland has not exceeded set benchmarks for air quality standards in almost all areas.
“The good news is despite a booming economy with significantly more activity in the mining and minerals processing industries, pollutant emissions for the key pollutants have remained stable,” he said.
The report card is based on data provided through the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) a public internet database which displays information about the emissions from industry and other sources such as motor vehicles and domestic fuel burning.
“The trends for some of the most significant substances for Queensland are presented in the report card,” Mr McNamara said.
Mr McNamara said the Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card analyses and communicates the NPI data in a way that is easy to understand.
The Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card will be produced annually.
The launch of the report card took place at the Oxley Creek Common air quality monitoring station.
“The monitoring station was recently upgraded to measure ultra-fine air particles in the air,” Mr McNamara said.
“Ultra-fine particles are the smallest components of airborne particles that are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs, they can be found in emissions from motor vehicles.
“To assess the environmental health and other impacts of vehicles, we need to continuously monitor the number and concentration of ultra-fine particles these cars emit in certain high traffic areas of South-east Queensland.”
Member for Yeerongpilly, Simon Finn, welcomed the upgrade to the monitoring station in his busy inner-metropolitan electorate.
“It is important to monitor emissions going into the air in busy environments,” Mr Finn said.
“The upgraded air monitoring station will provide an important tool to measure ultra-fine particles in the air and will increase our knowledge of the quality of the air we breathe.
“I know my constituents can now breathe more easily knowing this equipment is in use.”
Mr McNamara said two other stations in South-east Queensland would also be upgraded to monitor ultra-fine particles.
“One station will be located at Woolloongabba and another mobile air monitoring station will be ugraded for use in South-east Queensland.”
“By establishing these monitoring stations, the EPA will be able to track trends in air quality, benchmark our levels against levels in other places, and contribute to studies aimed at identifying and quantifying the health impacts of these particles.”
“The Queensland government will continue its hard work to ensure close monitoring of emissions into the air that we breathe.”
The Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card and hourly air quality data in Queensland can be viewed at www.epa.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, today released the Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card at the launch of upgraded air testing facilities at the EPA air quality monitoring station at Rocklea.
Mr McNamara said that the Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card highlighted that for the last 25 years in Queensland there has been continual improvement of air quality.
“This is due to strategies that reduce emissions of key pollutants into the atmosphere,” Mr McNamara said.
“The report shows Queensland has not exceeded set benchmarks for air quality standards in almost all areas.
“The good news is despite a booming economy with significantly more activity in the mining and minerals processing industries, pollutant emissions for the key pollutants have remained stable,” he said.
The report card is based on data provided through the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) a public internet database which displays information about the emissions from industry and other sources such as motor vehicles and domestic fuel burning.
“The trends for some of the most significant substances for Queensland are presented in the report card,” Mr McNamara said.
Mr McNamara said the Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card analyses and communicates the NPI data in a way that is easy to understand.
The Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card will be produced annually.
The launch of the report card took place at the Oxley Creek Common air quality monitoring station.
“The monitoring station was recently upgraded to measure ultra-fine air particles in the air,” Mr McNamara said.
“Ultra-fine particles are the smallest components of airborne particles that are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs, they can be found in emissions from motor vehicles.
“To assess the environmental health and other impacts of vehicles, we need to continuously monitor the number and concentration of ultra-fine particles these cars emit in certain high traffic areas of South-east Queensland.”
Member for Yeerongpilly, Simon Finn, welcomed the upgrade to the monitoring station in his busy inner-metropolitan electorate.
“It is important to monitor emissions going into the air in busy environments,” Mr Finn said.
“The upgraded air monitoring station will provide an important tool to measure ultra-fine particles in the air and will increase our knowledge of the quality of the air we breathe.
“I know my constituents can now breathe more easily knowing this equipment is in use.”
Mr McNamara said two other stations in South-east Queensland would also be upgraded to monitor ultra-fine particles.
“One station will be located at Woolloongabba and another mobile air monitoring station will be ugraded for use in South-east Queensland.”
“By establishing these monitoring stations, the EPA will be able to track trends in air quality, benchmark our levels against levels in other places, and contribute to studies aimed at identifying and quantifying the health impacts of these particles.”
“The Queensland government will continue its hard work to ensure close monitoring of emissions into the air that we breathe.”
The Queensland Pollutant Emission Report Card and hourly air quality data in Queensland can be viewed at www.epa.qld.gov.au
Media contact: Emma Parnell 3336 8002