Atmosphere
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Condition Indicator:
Department of Health Data regarding health profiles
Investigation of the dust impacts from the Port Adelaide Waterfront
Redevelopment Project on the Lefevre Peninsula Primary School - Department
of Health Report
An Air Quality study was undertaken in September 2008 by the Department of
Health to measure the impacts of dust particles in the air on the local school
community and establish recommendations to mitigate the risks. The
community of the Lefevre Peninsula in general is likely to be less resilient to the
effects of exposure to dust due to the poorer pre-existing respiratory and
circulatory health history of some sections of the community in that area. The
children at Lefevre Primary School may also be a vulnerable group being of a
young age. Therefore, the Dept Health considered it important that sources of
dust that be minimised. (SA Health, 2008).
The deposited dust samples collected inside Lefevre Peninsula Primary School
were found to contain a mixture of chemicals including metals and organic
chemicals. While the detected levels of most of these chemicals were
considered not sufficient to induce significant detrimental effects to health
individually, the effects of exposures to mixtures of chemicals are poorly
understood and not quantifiable at present (SA Health, 2008).
The Lefevre Peninsula Primary School dust samples were found to contain a
range of chemicals, all of which have a risk of causing adverse effects in
children and adults, along with the physical effects of the dust itself.
To mitigate the risks stated above, the Dept Health recommended that the
school be thoroughly cleaned, and dust levels be continuously monitored.
Furthermore, it is recommended that dust emissions associated with the
stockpiles, haul roads, and other dust producing activities be managed to
reduce overall dust emissions from the Port Adelaide Waterfront
Redevelopment site. Repeat cleaning of the school may be needed or other
preventive measures implemented if dust control management fails (SA Health,
2008).
