August 16, 2019 - We are confronted daily in the media with the deadly results of crashes on our roads and the tragedy that befalls those involved, writes Dr Graeme McLeay. Seat belts, improved ...
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health.
Better air quality reduces illness and death from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Links to diabetes and impaired infant growth are increasingly recognised. Policies to support reducing the combustion of fossil fuels through cleaner transport and power generation, are needed to reduce key sources of outdoor air pollution. Our Air Pollution Special Interest Group(SIG) members seek to support policies and programs to improve the health of all Australians through better protection of clean air.
Air Pollution Resources
REPORT ON AIR POLLUTION
“Lethal power: how coal is killing people in Australia” delivers a nation-wide estimate of the health effects from air pollution
FACTSHEETS ON AIR POLLUTION
Bushfires and Health: our fire-prone continent is at particular risk from the impacts of climate change, and we are experiencing more extreme heat events, an increase in severe fire danger days and a longer fire season. (Dec 2017)
Expert Position Statement on health-based standards for Australian regulated thresholds of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone in ambient air (August 2019)
August 5, 2019 - Ambient air pollution contributes to over 3000 premature deaths each year in Australia. Even at low concentrations, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3) are impacting public health. ...
Proposed variation to the ambient air quality measure standards for ozone, NO2 and SO2 submission
July 3, 2019 - Australia’s air pollution standards, known as National Environment Protection Measures (NEPM), were set in 1998 and are long overdue for revision. These standards are intended to protect public health, but ...
Mineral Resources (Galilee Basin) Amendment Bill 2018 Submission
January 25, 2019 - The Queensland government is considering a new bill – the Mineral Resources (Galilee Basin) Amendment Bill 2018 – that would effectively stop all coal mining in the Galilee Basin. DEA ...
Mt Piper Power Station License Review (December 2018)
December 18, 2018 - Along with Mt Piper Power Station License Review, submissions were also submitted for the Eraring Power Station and the Vales Point Power Station in New South Wales. The original expectations ...
Submission to the Review of the National Pollution Inventory (NPI) (August 2018)
August 24, 2018 - In Australia, it is estimated that urban air pollution contributes to approximately 3,000 deaths annually – more than double the deaths of the national road toll. As part of its ...
Rix’s Creek North Mod 8 (July 2018)
July 31, 2018 - The fundamental rationale of the EIS process is to assess the balance of positive and negative impacts upon which informed decisions can be made. The impacts may be environmental, health, ...
Submission to the Clean Air for all Victorians: Victoria’s Air Quality Statement
June 30, 2018 - The Victorian Government continues to involve the community in developing strategies to improve air quality in Victoria.DEA points out that Victoria needs to take stronger measures to reduce pollutants particularly ...
Clean Air for New South Wales: 2018 Update
April 12, 2018 - Particle air pollution in New South Wales is getting worse, with the annual averages for both fine and coarse particle pollution higher in 2018 than in 2017.
Submission to the Energy Security Board National Energy Guarantee – Consultation Paper
March 12, 2018 - The consultation paper is fundamentally flawed in failing to include health considerations from air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions which have considerable costs to human health and the nation.Read more:
Better fuel for cleaner air draft regulation impact statement
March 9, 2018 - Australia’s fuel standards for vehicles are the lowest of the countries comprising the OECD and amongst the lowest in the G20. They cause ill health and deaths from air pollution ...
Submission to the Senate Committee on the impacts on health of air quality in Australia 2013
March 30, 2013 - Doctors for the Environment Australia welcomes the opportunity to comment on the impacts on health of air quality in Australia, as this is an important public health issue to which ...
Study links traffic pollution and autism
December 13, 2012 - This article first appeared at the Conversation and appears here under a Creative Commons licence. Further information on air pollution can be found on our web site here. By Sunanda ...
Clear the air in coal versus health debate
May 14, 2012 - By Linda Selvey and David Shearman from the Newcastle Herald 12 May DEA Editorial Comment; This article talks about DEA’s submission opposing this huge project. There seems to be inevitability ...
Illness and Pollution at Port Augusta; Doctors Prescribe Solar Thermal Treatment
May 2, 2012 - There is an important public health message for power producers and governments. It is no longer appropriate to harm people by burning air polluting fossil fuels when there are healthy ...
The air you breathe can harm your health
September 6, 2011 - The following article, by Dr George Crisp, first appeared in Medical Observer on 5th Sep 2011. It appears below with the kind permission of Medical Observer. AIR pollution has been ...