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Report of the
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Environment
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Report of the
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Environment
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| Note: | BSP=particles which backscatter light. The NSW standard for visibility is <2.1 BSP units (equivalent to a visibility of 9km). PM10=particulate material less than 10 micrometres in diameter. The National Environment Protection Council's standard for PM10 is 50 micrograms per cubic metre averaged over 24 hours. PM2.5=particulate material less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. The advisory reporting standard for PM2.5 is 25 micrograms per cubic metre averaged over 24 hours. |
| Source: | NSW Department of Environment and Conservation incorporating Environment Protection Authority. |
Health and Air Research Program (HARP) studies funded by NSW Department of Health from 1993 to 1996 found associations between levels of atmospheric particles, daily mortality, hospital admissions for cardiac disease in the elderly and respiratory symptoms (Morgan G et al, 1998). Similar associations have been found in many cities around the world. Studies in the United States have also found that people living in cities with high particle pollution levels are more likely to die of lung cancer or heart-lung conditions (Pope CA et al, 2002).
Recent work has demonstrated that particle pollution is absorbed from the lungs into the blood, and from there causes effects on the heart, either directly or through inflammatory effects (Lippman M et al, 2003).
The major sources of particle pollution in urban areas are wood combustion for domestic heating and motor vehicles, particularly diesel-powered. Initial improvements in particle levels were seen in the 1980s, due to the elimination of backyard burning and emission controls on vehicles. However, levels appear to have stabilised over the last ten years, apart from peaks seen in 1993, 1997 and 2002, which were due to major bushfires.
Rural areas in New South Wales may experience high particle levels in winter in association with wood heater use. Wood heater use and smoking also increase particle levels inside homes. The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation has developed resources to enable local councils to encourage and assist residents in reducing wood heater pollution and comply with the Protection of the Environment (Clean Air) Regulation 2002 (NSWDEC website).
Atmospheric particles can be measured in terms of impact on visibility (due to scattering of light by particles) or by measuring the actual mass of particles. The National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) set the PM10 standard in 1998 (as concentration of PM10 (for particulate matter of less than 10 micrometres in diameter) and an advisory reporting standard for a finer fraction of particles (PM2.5) was set in 2003 (NEPC website).
| For more information: |
Pope CA, Burnett RT, Thun MJ, Calle EE et al. Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution. JAMA2002; 287: 1132-1141. Lippman M et al. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Particulate matter Health Effects Research Centers Program: A midcourse report of status, progress and plans. Environ Health Perspect 2003; 111: 1074-1092. NSW Department of Health. Outdoor air pollution. Available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/ehb/hazards/outdoor.html Department of Environment and Conservation. Woodsmoke. Available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/woodsmoke/index.htm. Department of Environment and Conservation. New South Wales State of the Environment 2003. Sydney: Department of Environment and Conservation, 2003. Available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/SOE/soe2003/index.htm. The next edition of the report is expected at the end of 2006. Morgan G, Corbett S, Wlodarczyk J. Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions in Sydney, Australia, 1990 to 1994. Am J Public Health1998; 88: 1761-66. Morgan G, Corbett S, Wlodarczyk J, Lewis P. Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in Sydney, Australia, 1989 through 1993. Am J Public Health 1998; 88: 759-764. National Environment Protection Council website at www.ephc.gov.au Lewis P, Hensley M, Wlodarczyk J et al. Outdoor air pollution and children's respiratory symptoms in the steel cities of New South Wales. Med J Aust 1998; 169: 459-63. |
| Print version: | Although this page can be printed directly from your Web browser, a higher quality version of this entire page (graph, table and text) is available as an Acrobat PDF file which can be printed or viewed on screen using free software. |
| Downloadable files: | The data contained in the table on this page are available for download as a CSV file which can be imported into many software packages. The graph is available for download as an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file and as an EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format) file. Files in these formats can be imported into most word processing, presentation and graphics software packages. |
| Copyright notice: | This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited. |
| Suggested citation: | Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/env/env_airpmbsp.htm. Accessed (insert date of access). |
| Produced by: | Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. |
| Last updated on: | 16 October 2006 |
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