It seems barely a week goes by without some sort of incident highlighting concerns about ‘air pollution’ in the western suburbs, be it a chemical spill, a toxic chemical factory fire, diesel trucks ignoring curfews and bans, or yet another study linking air pollution to ill health and even death. And so it was for July. Once again westies have endured the toxic effects of not just one, but two chemical fires in the space of a fortnight. The first at a factory on Swann Drive in Derrimut, at the site of the ACB Group factory where a worker died in a chemical explosion last year. The second at a warehouse containing plastic shipping pallets on Ballarat Road in Deer Park.
The Westsider reached out to Dr Nima Izadyar and A/Prof Elmira Jamei, scientists at Victoria University, to ask just how dangerous air pollution is, and what you can do to reduce the impact. Here is their response.
Poor air quality is lethal, claiming over 4,880 lives in Australia yearly. That’s four times the number of road fatalities in 2019.
The perils of polluted air span a spectrum of health woes including cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular harm, diabetes, cognitive decline, inflammatory bowel disease, brain tumours, mental health disorders and, as previously reported in the Westsider, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Vulnerable segments of the population, such as older adults, children, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying chronic conditions, face heightened risks. Inner west communities are at significant risk of substantial health problems due to air pollution levels resulting from industrial and transportation activities.
In addition to the historical presence of industrial sites and transport hubs in the inner west, the area’s geographic location channels a large volume of vehicles from and to the CBD and surrounding suburbs. The prevalence of diesel-fuelled trucks on the roads further exacerbates the situation, compounded by inadequate pollution governance and a historical lack of vegetation.
Rapid population growth and construction booms have intensified the exposure of many areas to industrial and transport emissions. The proximity of urban landfills brings residential areas closer to industrial zones and transport routes, compounding the problem yet again.
Furthermore, a warming climate escalates the threats of bushfires and dust storms, exacerbating dust emissions from industrial activities, landfills, and unpaved roads. These combined factors highlight the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the health and well-being of inner west communities.
But air pollution is not restricted to outdoor areas near busy roads. The air inside our homes and workplaces can be just as polluted, if not more. Common indoor pollutants include particulate matter (PM), such as dust, pollen, mould spores, and pet dander. But these harmful particles also come from outside sources, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted by chemical products and other outdoor sources. These can get inside through open doors, windows, and other gaps so, the question is how can we reduce these pollutants from entering our indoor spaces in a polluted urban setting?
In addition to enhancing ventilation and using air purifiers, preventing outdoor pollutants getting in via open doors and windows, vents and other small openings is critical.
Greening outdoor private spaces is another simple and cost-effective method to improve both outdoor and indoor air quality. A creative solution could be designing outdoor private spaces with specific types of greenery that enhance air quality and improve comfort and liveability. By planting the right plant species, and positioning them strategically around housing, we can not only reduce the particles indoors, but also cool cities and houses during extreme heat events.
This website: https://www.ala.org.au/ is helpful for the whole of Australia. Use the ‘Search species’ feature to find plants known for their ‘air-purifying qualities’ and enter your location to discover native plants that thrive in your specific region. You can also access the ‘Education Resources’ and other tools provided for detailed information on suitable plants.
It’s imperative that local governments incentivise community engagement, protect green spaces, and offer incentives for preserving private green spaces. This can be achieved by nurturing and supporting grassroots initiatives aimed at safeguarding or planting vegetation on private lands. Local authorities also must ensure transparency by making information on their community-based incentivisation efforts readily accessible to the public.
Working with the scientific community is essential for developing evaluation frameworks that enable the assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of these programs in addressing environmental issues such as air pollution.
