Particulate Pollution in Kwinana

In 2000 while researching Kwinana pollution and excess of health problems I became concerned at the mounting evidence in medical research of Particulate Matter (PM) pollution. Many more medical studies over the last few years have linked PM to various health problems including those that are in excess in Kwinana.

Fine particles, a major threat to children – “Fine PM is a major threat to children, because of their higher exposure to PM compared to adults, the immature state of the lung in childhood and also of the immune function at birth. The first months of life might be a period of particular sensitivity. Although the mechanisms of air pollution effects have not yet been completely understood, pregnant women, infants and children need specific protection against exposure to fine particles”.

Air Pollution Triggers Blood Clots – “Tiny particles of air pollution -- less than one tenth the width of a human hair -- can trigger clotting in the blood, US researchers said on Thursday in a finding that helps explain how air pollution causes heart attacks and strokes”.

Stroke Risk Linked to Brief Exposure to High Levels of Air Pollution: New research shows high air pollution levels make people more susceptible to suffering a stroke. In previous research, air pollution levels have been connected to daily death rates for respiratory // problems and heart disease. But research on air pollution and stroke has been conflicting. Investigators from Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan conducted a study to compare air pollution levels and stroke hospital admissions.

Respiratory Specialists Bang the Drum About Soot's Dangers - "The science is clear," said John E. Heffner, M.D., president of the American Thoracic Society, which is based here. "People develop respiratory disorders and those with existing lung, heart, and other chronic diseases die prematurely because they are exposed to these microscopic pollutants at levels well below those set by the EPA."

THE DEADLIEST AIR POLLUTION ISN'T BEING REGULATED OR EVEN MEASURED – I have since 2001, been calling for the Government to place license limits, monitoring requirements on licenses, on Industries in Kwinana which emit PM2.5. So far these requests have fallen on deaf ears. Western Australia still has no standard for PM2.5. No Kwinana industry has licence emission limits for PM2.5. No Kwinana industry is required under its license to monitor for PM2.5.

To its Credit BP Kwinana in response to growing community concern installed a filter on it cat-cracker to reduce particulate matter and won various awards. I would like to know how many people got sick or died in Kwinana as a result of the excessive emissions from this source over the last 50 years?

Particulate matter in Kwinana is in my view still a problem with even industry acknowledging that because of lack of studying of PM in the Kwinana Airshed it does not know the impact of PM on the health of the Kwinana Community.

At the end of the day if you don't look for it, don't limit it and don't care about it you won't find a problem, but the problem may find you.

It seems it is a lot easier for Kwinana Industry, the Kwinana Council and the WA Government to deny there is a pollution problem and to blame (without evidence) lifestyle factors as the only cause of excess health problems including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and cancer in the Kwinana Community.