By Candice Boyle
RESIDENTS living in areas affected by heavy truck traffic are almost three times more likely to suffer with asthma than residents in neighbouring suburbs, according to a new survey.
The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) surveyed 300 residents from Somerville Rd, Williamstown Rd and Francis St about the effect of truck traffic on their lives.
MTAG spokesman Peter Knight said the group was shocked by the figures released last week.
“We were expecting high rates of symptoms like asthma, but this was much more extreme than we anticipated.
“If it was 50 per cent higher you could write it off as just a small sample, but when it is three times higher you have to take notice,” he said.
MTAG has called for immediate action to ban all through truck traffic on Somerville Rd, Williamstown Rd and Francis St.
MTAG representatives will meet with Footscray MP Marsha Thomson to discuss the findings later this month.
“We have been advocating these bans for around 18 months, now we want to draw attention to how bad it is and make something happen now,” Mr Knight said.
MTAG is also planning to contact VicHealth, the Department of Human Services, and other relevant bodies to discuss the health effects the study has uncovered.
According to the Asthma Foundation Victoria, the asthma figures uncovered by the study are nearly triple the national average rate of 12 per cent for adults and 14 per cent for children for 2007.
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Of the 300 households who responded to the study, 36 per cent reported that they suffered from asthma.
Mr Knight said the figures show a snapshot of the health of people most affected by trucks.
Somerville Rd, Williamstown Rd and Francis St residents were chosen for the survey as about 6000 trucks pass through each day according to MTAG.
The effect trucks travelling on Francis St in Yarraville has been a prominent issue, with residents and environmental bodies for several years.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria found high levels of particles in the air when monitoring of the area was carried out in 2001.
According to the study, the airborne particles were most likely due to the large number of vehicles, particularly large diesel trucks, travelling along Francis St.
The report said the indicated airborne particle concentrations might affect the health of local residents with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma.
The measured particle levels were higher than at other EPA monitoring sites, including those next to a major arterial road.
When the report was issued the EPA said more studies would be required to further assess the significance of the findings.
Several general practitioners from the surrounding surveyed area said this week they were unable to comment on whether there had been a rise in the number of asthma sufferers they treat each year.
