Doctors for the Environment Australia

Transcription

1 Doctors for the Environment Australia Promoting health through care of the environment Dr Merryn Redenbach MBBS, BMedSci February 2013

2 An Amazing Year!

3 How to Stop A New Coal Fired Power Station

4 How to Stop A New Coal Fired Power Station

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6 Working together! Doctors for the Environment Australia: Objections to EPA, legal challenge. Environment Victoria: Victorian regulatory and legal strategies, facilitating community awareness Greenpeace Australia: National regulatory and funding strategy STOP HRL/ Quit Coal Direct Action and community organizing Locals into Victoria's Environment: legal challenge Environment Defender's Office: legal representation

7 About the ex-proposed Dual Gas Coal Fired Power Station Location: Morwell, Victoria Brown coal gassification technology 600 MW 4 million tonnes CO2 every year Funding Construction phase jobs: 350 Long term jobs: 40

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9 How it happened! REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS Works application to EPA GOVERNMENT FUNDING PRIVATE FUNDING Federal $100 mill State $50 mill Overseas investor 2007 Milestones include private HRL starts to get EPA public consultation funding money 2010 Approval Granted - ½ size Deadline 31 Dec 2011 VCAT appeal NOT MET. Investor pulls out May 2011 Dec 2012 Full size approval granted with conditions Extended to July big banks confirm they will not fund April 2012 COMPANY MOTHBALL PROJECT!! GRANT CANCELLLED!! Money down the drain! May 2012 July 2012

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16 How we empower communities! Providing information talks, handouts, website A place to go for advice: On health issues On advocacy! - community organising - media - regulatory authorities - local, state, federal government - building alliances

17 Standing on the shoulders

18 Standing on the shoulders

19 Standing on the shoulders

20 Standing on the shoulders

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25 Anglesea, Victoria

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27 How we stand up for communities = ADVOCACY Submissions Improving Regulations Lobbying Media Communication Research Education

28 Things we do...

29 Health Impacts of Coal Dust Promoting health through care of the environment Dr Merryn Redenbach MBBS, BMedSci February 2013

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31 Prevailing winds will blow more dust right over the urban areas of Mackay. Coal dust contains mercury, cadmium and selenium; all are heavy metals and neurotoxins. 01/03/13 31

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33 Why should doctors be concerned about coal?

34 The mining and burning of coal: effects on health and the environment. Each phase of coal s lifecycle produces pollutants that affect human health: l l l l l l Mining Disposal of contaminated water and tailings Transportation Washing Combustion Disposing of post combustion waste MJA 2011: 195: William Castleden, David Shearman, George Crisp, Philip Finch

35 The true cost of coal - incorporating externalities - Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci.2011; 1219: Epstein et al. US public US$ 1/3-1/2 trillion annually Add 18c/kWh 27c/kWh Australia Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) estimated 2007 $2.6 billion annually (PM 10, SO 2, No x ) $8.3 billion annually including greenhouse gas effects Environmental Accounting for Pollution in the United States Economy American Economic Review 101 (August 2011): Costs of air pollution from coal fired power industry at best 80% of industry value added - at worst 5.6 times greater

36 Factors impacting on health Dust consequences composition of dust Chemical Mineralogical Dust concentration On a weight basis: milligrams of dust per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) On a quantity basis: million particles per cubic foot of air (mppcf) Particle size and shape The particulate size distribution within the respirable range Fiberous or spherical

37 The size of dust particles effects which parts of the body they impacts on: Inhalable particles = inhaled but trapped in the nose mouth and throat and upper respiratory tract. Respirable particles = can be breathed into the lower bronchioles and alveolar region

38 Size of Particles: Bigger than 10 microns (10 um) ultra coarse 10 microns or less = PM 10 coarse particles 2.5 microns or less = PM 2.5 fine particles 0.1 microns or less = PM ultrafine particles

39 Major concerns for human health from exposure to PM-10 include: l increased asthma and respiratory disease 1% l cancer l death from lung (respiratory problems) l premature death: % increase in daily death rates; 0.6% increase for increase 10 ug/m 3 Particularly sensitive groups: the elderly, children, and people with chronic lung disease, influenza, or asthma. Source: Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part C, 26: , 2008

40 Effects of fine particulate matter Epidemiological study of 500,000 people: Fine particulate increases of 10 ug/m 3 were associated with an 8% increase in lung cancer mortality. Increase in life expectancy of 0.61 years after JAMA 2002; 287(9): a decrease of 10 ug/m 3 in fine particle concentration. N Engl J Med 2009; 360(4): US EPA is considering dropping their enforceable standard from 15 to 12 ug/m 3 annual average Expected annual savings from avoided health costs, sick days and deaths: $ billion, implementation cost $69 million. OR $ billion with drop to 11 ug/m 3 Environmental Health Perspectives, 2012; 120: A348 - A349

41 . Effects of fine particulate matter: Percent change in hospitalization rate per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 for all Medicare enrollees age > 65 years

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43 Children are vulnerable to pollution Children's body systems are still developing, and their development can be harmed.

44 Children are vulnerable to pollution Some of their protective systems aren't fully functioning yet.

45 Children are vulnerable to pollution Children behave differently to adults...

46 Children are vulnerable to pollution Children consume more air, water and food than adults.

47 Children are vulnerable to pollution References: Effects of Air Pollution on Children's Health and Development A Review of the Evidence, World Helath Organization, 2005.

48 Proven effects of air pollution on children's health Damages the developing lungs and results in reduced lung capacity by the time children reach adulthood. The Southern California Children's Health study followed 1759 children from age Those in more polluted areas had an average drop of 20% in lung function below expected. Aggravates asthma. Increases cough and bronchitis. Particulate pollution is linked to early respiratory deaths.

49 Will we be protected? Monitoring of Particulate Matter Federal Government standards: National Environment Protection Measure Ambient Air Quality Enforcable limits for PM10: 50 ug/m 3 Only advisory limits for PM ug/m 3 daily average 8 ug/m 3 annual average

50 Current Monitoring by NQBP: Total Suspended Particulates Dust Deposition

51 Benefit on people s health of having cleaner air. Atlanta Olympic Games - reduced car travel and increased public transport, resulting - ozone levels falling by one third. - asthma presentations fell - returned to pre-games levels ban on coal sales in Dublin and - average annual particle pollution fell by 36% -10% fall in deaths from cardiovascular disease - 15% fall respiratory deaths.

52 Recommendations from DEA

53 DEA is powerful!!

54 What in for DEA? Coal Exports Coal Seam Gas Repower Port Augusta Divestment campaign?

55 HEALTH CO-BENEFITS The greatest co-benefit for global and national health would be a reduction in the mining of coal and in its use for power generation

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57 Activist advice Relationships are number 1! Work with other people Welcome others as equals Learn to do public speaking Personal phone calls/discussion are invaluable to getting people to come to events Respect others professions learn from them! Media releases - Paul Watson Be less afraid :) Charges for activism Come and have coffee with me!

58 Random life advice Choose your specialty considering your all of the elements of your life Work with people you love/love the people you work with!

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