Tunnel pollution leaks ‘toxic cocktail’ on residents

The health of residents is at risk with a leaked report showing levels of ozone and particles in Sydney have not improved in the past 15 years.

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the draft copy of the Department of Environment and Climate Change’s (DECC) Action for Air 2009 report highlighted the inability of successive State governments to properly address pollution.

“It’s not acceptable that residents living near Sydney’s tunnels have their health put at risk by the toxic cocktail of unfiltered vehicle emissions that scientists are calling the ‘new asbestos,’” Ms Rhiannon said.

“The leaked document reveals the Government has not kept up with the science and that air pollution is growing because of its thirst for building motorways, not public transport.”

The draft plan reveals that residents living near Sydney’s M5 East, Cross City and Lane Cove motorway tunnels and stacks are at increased risk of health problems from air pollution.

Sydney GP and member of the Doctors for the Environment Australia management committee Graeme Horton confirmed Sydney’s air pollution had become a cause for great concern.

“The Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics estimate that in Australia in the year 2000 motor vehicle air pollution was responsible for between 900 and 2000 early deaths,” Dr Horton said.

“On top of that, we’re told that Sydney tunnels have emissions up to 100 per cent greater than were estimated in the design phase. Putting that together it means that this is a significant issue that warrants government attention.”

Dr Horton said children, those with heart or lung disease and the elderly were most at risk, but otherwise healthy people who exercised regularly should also be concerned.

“If people exercise in areas of high pollution, then that can actually result in the pollution having greater effects on their health,” Dr Horton said.

“When people do exercise they mouth-breathe more and they breathe in and out more rapidly, and therefore their exposure to the pollution is increased.”

Ms Rhiannon said the leaked report cast doubt over whether the State Government’s 2050 environmental targets would be met.

“There is not one new pollution initiative announced in this report,” she said.

But a spokesperson from the DECC said to accuse the Department of a lack of initiatives in this area was to blame the wrong people.

“[The DECC] does not regulate air monitoring in tunnels. Our programs are aimed at reducing emissions across the board by addressing the source  – ie cars – not just in specific areas where those emissions are concentrated,” the spokesperson said.

“Air quality in Sydney has improved over the past 15 years despite a strong population growth and growing economy.

“Ozone and particles still remain a challenge but one we are addressing through programs such as the Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels strategy and wood-smoke work with councils.”

According to the leaked report, ground-level ozone and particle pollution have shown no overall decline since the mid 1990s due to increases in population, motor vehicles and economic activity. Climate change is expected to worsen the situation with more hot days.

The report was presented to the DECC Executive in February. The plan was due to go to Cabinet in April and be released for the public in May.