Across Australia communities have become more aware of the industry air emissions in their region and this has led to increased community concern and discussion about the potential health impacts of these emissions.

If you are one of these concerned people, the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is an important source of the air emissions information needed to have an informed discussion. This Federal Government information is publically available at www.npi.gov.au.

The annual NPI update was released in April this year and tracks the emissions of industry, businesses, governments, households as well as from transport.

To make this information easier to access and understand, GILG has consolidated the NPI emissions of Gladstone Industry Leadership Group (GILG) members. This summary shows that in the Gladstone area GILG’s five members together release the majority of most of the 20 key emissions monitored by the Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone (CHAG) study. This is not unexpected given that GILG’s members each comprise the largest industries in their category in either Queensland or Australia.

There is no doubt that it would have been easy for GILG members to ignore the release of this disconcerting NPI data. By highlighting it, GILG’s members have shown that they wish to be part of a transparent community discussion of Gladstone’s air quality.

While useful, this NPI information does not answer several critical questions. As part of our community discussion we also need to ask, “How are these emissions dispersed?”, “What are the concentrations of these emissions in our community?” and, “Are these levels safe?” Getting answers to these questions is the purpose of CHAG study, which will be released in about three month’s time.

In the meantime, page two of the Observer has an air quality index that gives a daily indication of the quality of Gladstone’s air. The GILG website has a link to the near real time air monitoring data upon which this index is based.

The site also has a link to GILG members’ consolidated NPI emissions and gives you the opportunity to have your say. So if you’d like to ask questions about the NPI data, please check out our forum topics at www.gilg.com.au.

If you would like to have your say and don't know how, please click on this link which shows you how to register and make a comment, anonymously if you wish

I look forward to hearing from you soon, cheers, Kurt.

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