The NPI report found that particles of toxic material in the air including lead, arsenic and fluoride have increased by between 150% and 200% in the past 10 years.
Coal mining was identified as the leading source of particle pollution contributing 380,000 tonnes of the total 830,000t of tiny dust particles that can be breathed in, known as PM 10, emitted nationally in 2012-13.
The Hunter region in NSW was the next biggest contributor to declining air quality with 53,000t of PM10 toxins emitted in 2012-13 in the Singleton area alone, 96% of this came directly from coal mining.
Hunter Valley regional coordinator for the Lock the Gate Alliance Steve Phillips said the report showed clearly that current government action was doing little to prevent the quality of the air from declining.
Clean Air Queensland spokesman Michael Kane said the report should sound an urgent warning bell on the need for greater controls on air pollution.
“Coal mining was also a significant contributor to the levels of smaller particles clogging our air, known as PM 2.5. Coal burning for electricity generation is adding even more toxic load to the burden of pollutants we currently breathe in,” he said
“The report found that motor vehicles collectively contributed 12,000 tonnes of these particulates every year, a figure dwarfed by the emissions from the coal industry.”
“Our national standards need to be brought into state legislation and the standard acceptable limits for PM10 need to be brought into line with more stringent limits set by the World Health Organisation.”
The Queensland Resources Council told ICN it was still analysing the data.
