11 April 2006 - Research into
Australia's most critical air quality issues will
receive a $1.4 million boost, the Minister for
the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
announced today.
Senator Campbell said 13 research projects which
would investigate air quality issues such as photochemical
smog, the health costs of air pollution, and the
links with climate change would be funded through
the Australian Government's three-year Sustainable
Cities Clean Air Research Programme.
These projects will look at key air pollutants
and where they come from, he said. They will
also suggest practical ways to reduce their harmful
impacts.
It is vital for us to have high quality research
if we are to understand and manage the impacts
of air pollution in Australia.
Although we largely enjoy better air quality
than America and Europe, ambient levels of particles
and ozone continue to be a concern, particularly
in major Australian cities.
The research projects I am announcing today will
help expand our knowledge of major pollutants,
such as particles and ground level ozone, and
will increase our understanding of the chief sources
of air pollution, such as motor vehicles and wood
heaters.
Senator Campbell said projects to be funded would
investigate:
the exposure of the community, including children,
to vehicle pollution
novel methods to determine the health effects
of air pollution
the impacts of climate change on photochemical
smog and ground-level ozone and
air pollutant emissions from individual vehicles
and identifying gross polluters.
Research funded through the Clean Air Research
Programme will ensure that Australia remains a
world leader in tackling the problems that cause
poor air quality, Senator Campbell said.
Clean Air Research Programme
Successful projects
Ozone and photochemical smog management
CSIRO Energy Technology (NSW) examining how
emissions of major air pollutants from motor vehicles
influence the formation of secondary particles,
a component of photochemical smog. The information
will inform fuel specifications and improved emissions
controls. ($92 000)
CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology
(Vic) looking at the effects of prescribed burning
on indoor and outdoor levels of selected air pollutants.
Results from this study will be used to assess
the community risks air from exposure to pollutants
from prescribed burning activities, and ways to
mitigate risks through better planning. ($150
000)
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Vic)
conducting a modelling exercise to predict how
climate change could affect ozone levels in major
urban areas. Results will provide insight into
management actions that will be needed to meet
air quality standards. ($120 000)
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Vic)
assessing the contribution of secondary particles
to urban particle pollution and inform effective
management strategies to minimise particle pollution,
which is a major problem in Australia's urban
centres. ($75 000)
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Vic)
measuring levels of ozone and their precursors
in urban centres. Results will be used to develop
policies and management actions that will significantly
reduce ozone pollution in major cities. ($105
800)
Vehicle emissions
NIWA Australia (Qld) studying of emissions
from a range of vehicle types. The project will
provide information on the emissions characteristics
of the vehicle fleet and identify those vehicles
that are gross polluters. This will have practical
applications related to reducing the number of
smoky vehicles on the road. ($125 000)
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research (NSW)
measuring individual exposure to vehicle pollutants
and assess which are the most relevant indicators
of vehicle pollution. One of the major outcomes
will be to determine children's exposure to vehicle
pollution. ($159 900)
Woodheater emissions
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Vic)
determining the how woodheaters perform in peoples'
homes and the major factors that influence particle
emissions. Results will be used to develop realistic
woodheater emissions factors that will inform
appropriate management actions. ($125 000)
Health costs of air pollution
Sydney South West Area Health Service (NSW)
attempting to resolve some major issues associated
with assessing the health costs of air pollution,
an area of considerable debate. Results will be
used to develop more robust estimates of the costs
and benefits of air quality policies and management
actions. ($120 288)
Estimating exposure to air pollution
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Vic)
determining how ambient levels of air pollution
relate to personal exposure. Results will be used
to inform the development of air quality standards,
where exposure assessment is currently the weakest
link. ($119 400)
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Vic)
examining if atmospheric chemistry plays a major
role in community exposure to air pollution. Current
air quality standards do not take into account
the longevity of air toxics, such as benzene and
formaldehyde. Results from this study will be
used to inform monitoring programs and management
actions for air toxics in urban environments.
($34 000)
Other
Department of Environment WA: Air Quality Management
(WA) developing a method to elicit community
involvement in air quality issues traditionally
identified and acted upon by governments, thus
giving ownership of the issues to the people that
are affected. ($50 000)
National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology
(Qld) examining a novel approach to assessing
air quality using biomarkers. Health effects of
air pollutant mixtures have generally been regarded
as too difficult to determine. Outcomes from this
project will be used to develop a method for assessing
air quality based on the effects of ambient air
on micro-organisms. ($119 489)
