Air Quality – Monitoring Programs:
Monitoring of two main dust particle types is undertaken:
- PM10 or Particulate Matter of less than 10 micron. This is the fraction of airborne particulate matter smaller than 10 micron. PM10 particles are invisible to the naked eye and can be inhaled into human airways; and
- TSP or Total Suspended Particulates. This measures all sized particulate matter suspended in the air column, generally up to 100 microns in diameter.
The following monitoring programs are undertaken by Mid West Ports Authority:
1. High Volume Air Sampling (HiVol)
High Volume Air Samplers (or HiVol stations) are used to monitor metal concentrations in air quality as PM10 and Total Suspended Particulates (TSP). This monitoring occurs at all times during ship loading of metal concentrates. The HiVol stations measure accumulated matter on a filter paper which is sent to a laboratory for analysis. All results are compared against regulatory limits to ensure compliance.
Continual or “real-time” monitoring of PM10 particulate dust at 10-minute intervals is recorded via a number TEOM stations.
Mid West Ports Authority maintains an Air Quality Portal which shows current PM10 levels at the Port. This portal is updated every hour and provides an indication of current air quality within the port precinct.
3. Dust Deposition
Dust deposition gauges collect deposited particulate matter from four stations located in the Fishing Boat Harbour precinct. These are compared to background conditions in Bluff Point. The gauges collect material over a monthly period and are then analysed to determine levels of organic matter, metals, soluble solids and insoluble solids.
