THE AIR in Brimbank – especially Brooklyn – still contains a high level of dust particles which can endanger residents’ health, according to a new council report.
The Brimbank City Council will make a submission to Canberra’s Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs inquiry, which is investigating the impacts of air quality Australian’s health.
For the past few years, Star has been reporting on the high prevalence of ‘PM10’ dust in the air across Brooklyn, caused by nearby industrial businesses.
‘PM10’ refers to particles which measure 10 micrometres or less and can cause medical problems like asthma if people are exposed to them at high levels.
Last August, Star revealed Brooklyn recorded 20 days during the 2011-2012 financial year when PM10 dust levels were higher than the recommended safety amount.
The Environment Protect Authority recommends people should only be exposed to five PM-10 days per year.
The Brimbank City Council’s submission to the Senate inquiry said the issue was “critical both now and in the future” due to the amount of industrial and manufacturing businesses in Brimbank.
“More detailed investigation of the contribution of urban air pollution to lower respiratory infections, asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases should be undertaken,” the report said.
“Any such investigation should provide data at a municipal level to enable localised resources.”
The council submission also said new standards for measuring dust levels in the air should be introduced, in addition to new minimum safety requirements for dust levels containing both large and small particles.
Brimbank administrator Jane Nathan said the high level of unhealthy dust in the air was unfair for Brooklyn residents.
“If you compare our levels in Brooklyn to areas like South Yarra and Brighton, where residents have only around two days a year where there is unacceptable levels of dust, it is just unbelievable,” she said.
