While the Albanese Government doesn’t mind handing out cash to support renewable development or deployment in Australia, it does not change their targets to only marginally reduce the burning of coal. The nationalistic tone of Australia as a “renewable energy superpower” is in addition to being a fossil fuel superpower, not in replacement of it.

30 October 2024

ALAN HAYES

 

IT has been previously assumed that PM2.5 from all sources is equally toxic. But coal PM2.5 is rich in sulphur dioxide, black carbon, and metals. Recent evidence suggests that such emissions may be deadlier than PM2.5 from other sources.

 

A team of researchers led by Dr. Lucas Henneman at George Mason University, the Harvard School of Public Health, and UT Austin set out to estimate the number of deaths associated with PM2.5 from coal power plants.

 

The researchers calculated that for every 1 μg/m3 increase in coal PM2.5, mortality increased by 1.12%. This is more than twice the risk that was previously associated with general PM2.5 exposure from all air pollution sources.

 

PM2.5 from coal has been previously treated as if it was just another air pollutant. But it’s much more harmful than previously thought, and its mortality burden has been seriously underestimated.

 

The coal that feeds Eraring PowerStation comes from five mines in the local area, delivered by conveyor, rail and private road. There is also significant coal storage capacity on site.

 

A conveyor system is used to transport coal to Vales Point Power Station from a nearby mine to a coal stockyard and then to the power station site.

 

In 2019, Eraring power station had allegations made against it, regarding the exceedance of NSW air pollution standards. The EPA reported Mercury emissions of 1.3 kg, and begun investigating the alleged breach under reporting of self-collected emission data.

 

Mercury poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury. Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure. It may include muscle weakness, poor coordination, numbness in the hands and feet, skin rashes, anxiety, memory problems, trouble speaking, trouble hearing, or trouble seeing. Long-term complications may include kidney problems and decreased intelligence.

 

The EPA received the complaints alleging excessive dust being generated and blown from the station’s ash dam on the afternoon of 17 October 2019.

 

The dust was witnessed from several kilometres away and had the potential to impact local air quality and disturb the amenity of residents.

 

The NSW Environment Protection Authority fined Origin Energy Eraring Pty Ltd $15,000 over the alleged dust emissions in 2020. A token 'slap on the hand for being naughty' but no real penalty to ensure that it doesn't happen again

 

As of 2021, the Vales Point Power Station was emitting more toxic nitrogen oxide pollutants than allowable under the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2021 in order to continue to legally operate (or otherwise cease operating). The operator applied for an exemption under its licence 761, which was granted on 15 December 2021 with a reduction variation and additional conditions imposed by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority. Sweeping the problem under the carpet is not good enough - pollution from the power station is still allegedly impacting on the health of residents who live in the suburbs north of Wyong.

 

Whether coal is transported by rail, truck or conveyor belt to Eraring and Vales Point, it is transported uncovered and then stockpiled for use at the power stations, again uncovered.

 

The transportation of uncovered coal has been shown to significantly increase ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (Ostro et al. 2023a, 2023b; Jaffe et al., 2015; Akaoka et al., 2017).

 

Recent studies have also revealed that the ambient PM2.5 concentrations of passing coal cars is greater than those generated by freight or passenger trains, and that these emissions can reach residential communities (Ostro et al., 2023a; Jaffe et al., 2015). The population-level effect of coal transport by rail is significant, in part because this activity is widespread.

 

The University of Texas, Austin, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, also 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 has 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.

 

So, by the State Government extending the life of Eraring and Vales Point Power Stations, it is making more people on the Central Coast sick.

 

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.

 

According to Gary Blaschke OAM, spokesperson for the Central Coast community group Future Sooner, 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,” Mr Blaschke said.

 

“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," he said.

 

In 2023, as previously reported, Future Sooner hosted a community meeting with Marcos Orellana, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and for the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and waste.

 

The Special Rapporteur report, tabled at the UN Human Rights Council General Assembly between September 9 and October 9 2023, took note of ‘acute toxic challenges’ facing Australia, including the ‘toxic impacts of coal mines and coal-fired power plants’ posing ‘serious threats to the environment and to the health of affected communities’.

 

The Rapporteur’s report stated that 'communities have paid the price with premature deaths, terminal illnesses, asthma and other health problems’ and that those same ‘communities continue to be exposed to unsafe levels of air pollutants and toxics from coal mining and coal-fired power stations’.

 

The most recent Coal dust report, Fossil Fuels are a Health Hazard, which highlighted the health impacts of coal-fired power station pollution and was released on 14 August 2024 by Doctors for the Environment Australia, declared a Code Red - the dangers of fossil fuel pollution is now killing more people globally than cigarette smoking.

 

The Future Sooner Citizen’s Inquiry into pollution from burning coal uncovered disturbing health stories from long-term and short-term residents living near Eraring and Vales Point power stations.

 

“Life-threatening asthma, emphysema, respiratory disease, bowel, brain, blood, breast, sinus, throat and mouth cancers – stories from an array of witnesses were presented at the Citizens Inquiry,” said Dr Ian Charlton, Chair of the Citizens Inquiry Panel.

 

“People are worried that the coal-fired power stations are making them sick, and the government is silent,” he said.

 

“Impacted communities were promised a public health study as the outcome of a Parliamentary Inquiry in 2022 but nothing has been done. Some of the stories were overwhelming,” Dr Charlton said.

 

In Australia, coal’s health impacts cost taxpayers an estimated $2.4 billion every year and cause a range of health problems - more than two million Australians have exposed to toxic pollutants from coal-fired power stations.

 

Just as health professionals advocated against the tobacco industry, people have a right to speak up against the burning of coal and the deadly airborne PM2.5 pollutants it produces, which present unacceptably high health risks.

 

Clean energy solutions are available now in the form of clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy and storage technology. Bob Dylans’s song of the 1960s, ‘The times they are a changin’, uncannily now reflects a global change, as investments in clean energy outstrip fossil fuels – clean, green energy 24/7 is now achievable.

 

It’s time our Federal and state governments listened to the people, acknowledged that burning coal is killing people prematurely, and to stop pandering to the BS of the mining lobby and supporting the profits of the coal and energy companies.

 

Kicking coal to the curb isn’t just a good idea for our climate, it will help save lives, too!

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