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21 October 1998 |
Ref 98/246 |
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Australia faces a significant air quality challenge, according to senior CSIRO researchers, but it is largely because of indoor rather than outdoor pollutants.
"We have made major progress in tackling air pollution problems," agree CSIRO's Dr Graeme Pearman and Mr Larry Little in a joint statement. "But the challenge now for Australia is to consider total air quality, not just the quality of air outside our homes, offices and cars."
"For many of us, our main exposure to air pollutants will be when we are indoors, such as at home, in the workplace or in entertainment venues," says Dr Pearman, Chief of CSIRO Atmospheric Research.
Australians on average spend about ninety five percent of their time indoors and many pollutants occur at higher concentrations indoors than outdoors because of the materials and appliances used in buildings.
"The ideal objective is to measure 'individual exposure' to pollutants. That is, a measure of the actual exposure that people have to air pollutants during their daily routines, rather than measures of pollution at fixed locations," says Dr Pearman.
"During the past decade, we have made major advances throughout Australia in improving the air that we breathe. Industry has generally taken a very responsible role in reducing pollution emissions," says Dr Pearman.
"Coupled with significant reductions in air pollution brought about by catalytic converters in motor vehicles, levels of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons in urban air are dropping in many Australian cities," says Dr Pearman.
"We commend the low concentrations set by the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) for Ambient Air Quality for fine particles, recently announced by the National Environment Protection Council of Environment Ministers, especially as these particles have been shown to damage health," says Dr Pearman. "This may keep down fine particles levels in urban areas."
The NEPM sets out maximum desirable concentrations for a range of pollutants as well as allowable target maximums to be achieved within ten years. Included in the Measure for ambient air quality are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, photochemical oxidants (such as ozone), sulfur dioxide, lead and particles as PM10. The Measure also specifies the way in which each pollutant should be measured and the measuring period.
"I especially congratulate the National Environment Protection Council, its Chairman, Senator Robert Hill, and the Chair of the Project Team that developed the NEPM for the Council, Dr Brian Robinson of the Victorian EPA, on their role during the past decade in helping to develop national uniform standards for air quality through the NEPM," says Dr Pearman.
"The NEPM is highly desirable. However, there is more that can be done, especially in regard to our understanding of exposures to pollutants generated in indoor environments from manufactured products and appliances. Our understanding of air pollution is advancing at a great rate," says Mr Larry Little, Chief of CSIRO Building, Construction and Engineering.
"Researchers during the past couple of years have developed versatile ways of monitoring indoor air as well as monitoring individuals' total exposure to air pollutants," says Mr Little.
CSIRO has recently tested personal air pollution detectors, which monitor concentrations of pollutants that people breathe. CSIRO Building, Construction and Engineering scientists have examined typical indoor emissions from materials and appliances, and have shown the need for flues on gas heaters and vent fans on gas cookers. They have also examined how design changes can minimise air pollution emissions from slow combustion wood heaters.
"As well as fine particles, air toxics such as cancer-causing benzene are of concern, especially since levels of this chemical have been found in higher concentrations in some buildings than outdoors" says Mr Little.
More information from:
Paul Holper 03 9239 4661 (w)
0419 894 427 (m)
03 9583 9903 (h)
paul.holper@dar.csiro.au
Justine Leadbetter 03 9252 6172
0419 106 419 (m)
Justine.Leadbetter@dbce.csiro.au
Accredited media representatives are welcome to attend all sessions of the Clean Air and Environment Conference, which is being held from Monday 19 October to Wednesday 21 October at the Melbourne Hilton on the Park, 192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.
(Australia's largest scientific research organisation)
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