Environmental Health Risks

Dr Andrew Langley has worked in Public Health since 1986 most recently in the Sunshine Coast Public Health. He has had particular interests in Environmental Health and toxicology and played a key role in the development of national guidelines for Environmental Health Risk Assessment and the Assessment of Contaminated sites. His presentation, ‘Environmental Health Risks’ looks at the practical application of Risk Assessment and Risk Management frameworks. Broadcast on 12 December 2019.

The following information may be useful for listeners, particularly for the question on Air Quality Indices (AQI):
• AQIs relate to the percentage of the maximum concentration for the seven Ambient Air Quality pollutants (CO, Pb ,NO¬2, PM10, PM2.5, Photochemical Oxidants as ozone and SO2 specified in the National Environment Protection Measure (2016). These percentages, including exceedances, are then converted to a qualitative statement (see https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/air-quali....

When interpreting AQI consider:
• number and distribution of sampling sites.
• averaging periods: for respiratory irritants such as NO¬2 and SO2 these should be of short duration.
• time since Measure was set and the methodology used. A consultation period closed recently for changes to NO¬2, SO2 and ozone. Methodology is detailed at the National Environment Protection Council. The PM2.5 will be changed from 25 µg/m3 to 25 µg/m3 by 2025.
• particularly for irritant pollutants, some susceptible people may experience adverse health effects at the maximum concentrations specified in the NEPM e.g. for SO2 see pp 55 – 57 in the Impact Statement for the Review of Ambient Air Quality NEPM standards available at http://www.nepc.gov.au/nepms/ambient-...