Reports and studies

On this page

1. Publications by year: this includes all publications
2. Publications by key topics (A-Z): this includes publications in key topics only

Publications by year

2012

• Upper Hunter fine particle characterisation study: a project jointly funded by NSW Health and Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)
• A review of cancer registry data in response to concerns about a possible excess of cancer associated with the emissions from the M5 East tunnel:
• Report: A review of cancer registry data in response to concerns about a possible excess of cancer associated with the emissions from the M5 East tunnel
• Media release from 23 July 2012: Study finds no causal link between M5 East Tunnel emissions and lung cancer
• Media release from 30 November 2012: Respiratory health study findings released on Lane Cove Tunnel (a study conducted by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research)

2011

• Expert Advisory Committee commentary on Water Tank Sampling Results – Camberwell Village and Glennies Creek: 1-9 July 2008, published in 2011
• Special Additional Pollution Measures (SAPM) Study – initial report

2010

• Singleton Cancer Cluster Investigation:
• Report: Singleton Cancer Cluster Investigation
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer Among Residents in the Hunter New England Area Health Service:
• Report: Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer Among Residents in the Hunter New England Area Health Service
• Analysis of BEACH general practitioner encounter data:
• Report: Analysis of BEACH general practitioner encounter data
• Conclusions of EAC on the findings of BEACH study

2006

• M5 East Motorway reanalysis of phase 2 report: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway stack on the Turrella Community: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway stack on the Turrella Community

2004

• M5 East Motorway Phase 2 report: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway Stack on the Turrella community
• Comparison of personal exposure to air pollutants by commuting mode in Sydney

2003

• M5 East Tunnels Air Quality Monitoring Project
• M5 East Motorway Phase 1 report: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway Stack - Phase 1

Publications by key topics (A-Z)​

• Hunter New England Area
• Lane Cove Tunnel
• M5 East Motorway

Hunter New England Area

The Hunter New England area has a number of coalmines and coal-fired power plants operating in the region. It is understood that mining and power plants generate particulate matter and other pollutants that are emitted into the ambient air. A number of studies and reports have been published in regards to air quality in the Hunter New England Area:

• Singleton Cancer Cluster Investigation, published in 2010:
• Report: Singleton Cancer Cluster Investigation
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer Among Residents in the Hunter New England Area Health Service, published in 2010:
• Report: Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer Among Residents in the Hunter New England Area Health Service
• Analysis of BEACH general practitioner encounter data, published in 2010:
• Report: Analysis of BEACH general practitioner encounter data
• Conclusions of EAC on the findings of BEACH study: Conclusions of EAC on the findings of BEACH study
• Special Additional Pollution Measures (SAPM) Study – initial report published in 2011
• Upper Hunter fine particle characterisation study: a project jointly funded by NSW Health and Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH)

Lane Cove Tunnel

The Lane Cove Tunnel is a 3.6 km twin tunnel motorway under Epping Road that links the M2 Motorway at North Ryde with the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon. The Woolcock Institute undertook ‘The Air Quality & Respiratory Health Study’ (AQRHS), which monitored the respiratory health of 3000 people living near the tunnel prior to its opening, in 2006, then repeated in 2007 and 2008. It aimed to determine whether the effects of changes in air quality arising from traffic-related air pollution are associated with changes in respiratory health in people living around the Lane Cove Tunnel.

• Reports: please see the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research for more information
• NSW Health media release from 30 November 2012: Respiratory health study findings released on Lane Cove Tunnel

M5 East Motorway

The M5 East tunnel is a 4km twin tunnel connecting Sydney airport with the south-western freeway at Bexley. It opened to traffic in December 2001. Due to community concerns about air quality associated with the tunnel, NSW Health has undertaken two studies: the M5 East in-tunnel monitoring study and the M5 East health investigation. In 2010, the local Public Health Unit was approached by a community group with health concerns that local cases of leukaemia were due to air pollution from the stacks. In response, a cancer registry data study was undertaken. The reports of the studies are:

• M5 East Tunnels Air Quality Monitoring Project, published in 2003
• Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway Stack:
• Phase 1 report: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway Stack - Phase 1, published in 2003
• Phase 2 report: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway Stack on the Turrella community, published in 2004
• Reanalysis of phase 2 report: Investigation into the possible health impacts of the M5 East Motorway stack on the Turrella Community, published in 2006
• A review of cancer registry data in response to concerns about a possible excess of cancer associated with the emissions from the M5 East tunnel, published in 2012:
• Report: A review of cancer registry data in response to concerns about a possible excess of cancer associated with the emissions from the M5 East tunnel
• Media release from 23 July 2012: Study finds no causal link between M5 East Tunnel emissions and lung cancer