Indicator: Airborne particles| Indicator description | Complete list of Indicators | What the results tell us for TumutCouncil reports that currently a significant component of domestic heating within the valley is wood fuel used in slow combustion heaters. This fact, together with the occurrence of climatic inversions sometimes creates moderate level smoke pollution events. As a consequence of the energy requirements of the Visy Mill, Natural Gas is being extended to Tumut and should be available to the town by Winter 2001. The energy source should increase the attractiveness of the Region to further industry and may be utilised by the existing timber mills as an alternative to burning timber residues. The availability of natural gas in the town will provide an economic alternative to wood fired heating and should lead to an improvement in air quality. About the dataInformation was provided by Tumut Shire Council. Description: What does 'airborne particles' measure?Which data are collected?
Why do we report this indicator?The amount of particles in our atmosphere can result in a loss of visibility because of haze, as well as increases in the number of people affected by respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. This is the reason for including airborne particles as an indicator in the State of the Environment Report for the Australian Capital Region. It is the fine particles (ones less than 10 micrometres in diameter, known as PM10) that have the most serious effects on human health. However, the total amount of particles (called total suspended particles, or TSP) in the atmosphere, which is the concentration of all airborne particles, can also be a problem for human and environmental health. The concentration of particles in the atmosphere determines the amount of haze, or how far you can see. Usually a visibility of less than 20 km is considered to be unacceptable, and it will often cause concern within the community. Haze can also increase when there are gases such as nitrogen dioxide which are coloured or semi-opaque. This means that it is possible to have an increase in haze, without it being caused by an increase in the amount of particles. Brown haze, or smog, is a good example of this. Particles are emitted in motor vehicle and aircraft exhaust, from wood-heaters, burning-off on farms, backyard burning and incinerators, as well as from quarrying and a myriad of industrial processes. Natural causes of haze and airborne particles are bushfires, volatile compounds emitted from vegetation on hot days (particularly the bluish haze seen over eucalypt forests), mist and fog, dust from dry soil and sea-spray. You can find more information from The NSW EPA and Environment Australia. |