DWER investigation shows no health risk from dust levels near Alcoa’s Pinjarra refinery

A delayed Government report into airborne dust levels in the area near Pinjarra’s Alcoa refinery has finally been handed down, revealing the dust does not pose a public health risk but more monitoring will be held on potential impacts across the town. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation released on Thursday the results of an air monitoring study, which measured the air quality on the north-eastern outskirts of Pinjarra and found dust levels were “below relevant national guidelines”. It said the levels were raised above this only due to smoke from bush fires twice over the monitoring periods. The results found levels of airborne particles measured were in general low and the concentration of about 32 different metals found in the particles were “lower than health guidelines”. The Department of Health reviewed the findings and said they did not present a public health risk at the area where the monitoring took place. DWER executive director of assurance Ruth Dowd said the department would continue with monitoring this summer in a “more central” Pinjarra location to further assess the dust levels throughout the year. The department said it would stream the results of the monitoring in real-time through its website to “help assist the Pinjarra community to see and respond to local dust levels”. Community events were also planned to provide information on the monitoring and results. The survey occurred over three stretches totalling about five months this and last year to assess ambient dust levels in the air. It was originally scheduled to be released five months ago. The study was commissioned after concerns were raised by residents who live in the area, who told The West last month they feared the dust, which blows over suburban areas near Pinjarra from waste stockpiles at Alcoa’s Pinjarra alumina refinery, could cause health problems. The Alcoa refinery is a huge employer in the Peel region but increasing suburban development near Pinjarra has heightened anxiety in the population of about 6000 people over its impacts. Peel Environmental Protection Alliance president Rusty Geller told The West group members had concerns about the impact of the dust on farmland neighbouring Alcoa and Carcoola Primary School about 3km south-east of the refinery. “We worry about the kids 10 or 20 years from now having health issues because of this,” he said. “The rooftop evaporative air-conditioners in the houses around the primary school, the filters were full of red dust. All we can assume is that same stuff is getting pumped into the primary school.” Mr Geller raised concerns the dust contained high levels of radioactive elements and other toxic metals such as mercury. DWER said the department was aware the Pinjarra refinery stockpiles “contain traces of uranium and thorium” — two radioactive elements — but appeared to downplay its significance. “Uranium and thorium are naturally occurring elements that are widespread in the Earth’s crust,” a DWER spokesman said.