7 April 2020
Coal power pumps 300M tonnes of toxic pollution into the air in 12 months
Emission of toxic air pollutants from NSW power stations remains dangerously high, new National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) data shows, posing an unacceptable and unnecessary risk to public health.
According to NPI data for 2018-19, Vales Point, Eraring, Liddell, Bayswater and Mount Piper power stations pumped into the air:
- 176,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide
- 120,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides
- 775 tonnes of deadly fine particles
“These data highlight the high price the people of NSW pay for coal-fired power – toxic pollution that causes completely preventable death,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“These levels of toxic pollution are illegal in other parts of the world. Why should the people of NSW accept lower pollution standards than China or Europe?
“By turning a blind eye to the health costs of coal-fired power, the government tips the balance against clean energy sources.
“The NSW Government has the power to set standards that are in line with world’s best practice to reduce dangerous emissions and the terrible toll air pollution has on so many people’s health.
“In 2017, almost 4,500 people in Australia died from poor air quality [1] and the health of millions more is compromised every year.
Sulfur dioxide increases the rate and severity of asthma; fine particle pollution causes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and reduces infant birth weight; and oxides of nitrogen decrease lung function and worsen allergies and asthma. [2]
Coal-burning power stations are a leading cause of air pollution deaths in NSW, with a recent study estimating they lead to 279 deaths, cause 233 underweight births, and 361 cases of type 2 diabetes every year. [3]
|
Pollutant
|
Bayswater
|
Liddell
|
Eraring
|
Vales Point
|
Mt Piper
|
TOTAL
|
|
Oxides of Nitrogen (tonnes)
|
30,472
|
20,771
|
23,062
|
21,007
|
25,019
|
120,331
|
|
Particulate Matter 2.5μm (tonnes)
|
341
|
116
|
123
|
130
|
63
|
773
|
|
Sulfur dioxide (tonnes)
|
42,849
|
31,339
|
45,000
|
21,000
|
36,000
|
176,188
|
REFERENCES
[1] Health Effects Institute. 2019. State of Global Air 2019. Data source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. IHME, 2018.https://www.stateofglobalair.org/data/#/health/table For interactive table: Pollutant = Air pollution; Measure = Deaths + Number; Country = Australia.
[2] https://www.envirojustice.org.au/coal-fired-power-stations-still-australias-major-source-of-toxic-fine-particle-pollution/
[3] The health burden of fine particle pollution from electricity generation in NSW, Dr Ben Ewald B.Med, PhD, November 2018.
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Climate and energy
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