In considering links between air pollution and health effects, it’s helpful to understand that while there’s no safe standard of exposure to particulates, the finest particles are of greatest concern since they can make their way into the deepest areas of our lungs and accumulate there.
This diagram (Source) show relative particle sizes:
Combustion particles that arise from traffic (trucks and vehicles), industry, coal/oil combustion for energy, shipping (including cruise shipping), biomass/wood combustion are central to health effects.
Air quality on the Lefevre Peninsula is measured by the EPA at two sites – LeFevre Peninsula Primary School (Le Fevre 1) and North Haven Primary School (Le Fevre 2) and both now have continuous monitoring instruments.
Le Fevre 1 started monitoring in 2006, detecting larger PM10 particles. Le Fevre 1 has recently been upgraded so it can now, like Le Fevre 2, detect the more problematic, finer PM2.5 particles plus nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide.
The EPA provides two sources of air quality data from sites around the State, including Le Fevre 1 and 2.
There is Recent air quality reporting (‘updated hourly at half past the hour’). There are also Air Quality reports; here you will find past reports on air quality and also summaries (quarterly reports since 2015) of all of the EPA data. Data relating to Le Fevre sites 1 and 2 can be found starting at section 1.4 in these reports.
Council convened a meeting for the community on February 18th 2015 at which Peter Dolan, Director of Science and Assessment, EPA gave a presentation on Air quality and interface.
A comprehensive presentation on Particulate matter and health effects has been provided by Dr Monika Nitschke, Principal Scientific Officer with SA Health.
In response to community concerns about air pollution along Victoria Road, Council in March 2017 asked the EPA to conduct air quality tests.
The Portside Messenger of April 11, 2018 reported:
AIR quality monitoring on Victoria Rd will finally take place – five years after a state parliamentary committee initially recommended it.
The testing will go ahead after Port Adelaide Enfield Council agreed to contribute $50,000 to the process.
(Current at 30 July, 2018)
This post is one in the series Significant Environmental Issues on the Lefevre Peninsula