Airborne coal dust impacts health

According to Gary Blaschke OAM, the real reason behind the NSW Government decision to extend the life of old, decaying and polluting coal-fired power stations is a chronic lack of courage. Yet, as a country we have the courage to follow the US on submarines!

 

Rather than close power stations and speed up building renewable energy, the State Government would prefer to keep them open. Why?

3 July 2024

 

GARY BLASCHKE, spokesperson from Future Sooner Group, said that it was ironic that when it comes to submarines for protection we follow the US. "Yet when it comes to protecting the health of our citizens from the dangers of coal-fired power stations, like Vales Point and Eraring (1), our government goes weak at the knees.”

 

“I could fill books with examples of the the health dangers from coal pollution," he said.

 

The University of Texas, Austin, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2), for example, found that between 1999-2020 there were 460,000 deaths directly attributable to 2.5 microgram size particulate matter contained in airborne coal dust.

 

The United States’ Union of Concerned Scientists (3) outlined how that when coal is burned it releases mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other heavy metals. Health impacts can range from asthma and breathing difficulties, to brain damage, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders, and premature death.

 

“The latest Australian National Pollution Inventory shows that in 12 months  Eraring’s mercury pollution increased 130%. PM 2.5 particles by 88% with PM10 particles and sulphur-dioxide by 15%. Both Vales Point and Bayswater power stations also had alarming increases." said Gary Blaschke.

 

“The Coal Ash Inquiry set out 16 recommendations yet to be fulfilled."

 

Retired local GP, Dr Merlene Thrift, said that within 12 months of moving to the Lake Macquarie area from the  mid-north coast, she formed the opinion that people were sicker here than in Kempsey with multiple health conditions like high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, cancer, and depressed immune systems.

 

“This is why Future Sooner is holding a Citizens Inquiry. If the people have the courage to tell their health stories, if America has the courage to take action, we’ll certainly be making sure our politicans find the courage to do the same,” she said.

 

Resources

 

• (1) The Guardian

 

• (2) Harvard

 

• (3) Union of Concerned Scientists