Publications
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005
ISBN 0642551308
Substances are emitted to air, land and/or water, and some substances can cause particular environmental problems when emitted to a particular destination, for example, total phosphorus to water.
The following sections give an overview on the destinations of emissions and some information from the 2003-04 facility data.
Substance emissions to air comprise both facility emissions and diffuse source emissions.
In 2003-04, out of the 90 NPI substances, 83 were released to air.
Emissions of the most commonly known air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter 10 micrometres or less in diameter, were higher this year than last year. There was also an increase in the number of facilities reporting these substances.
The Port Phillip airshed region covers an area of approximately 2.4 million square hectares.
Data about the Port Phillip airshed was updated in 2003-04. The number of facilities reporting in the Port Phillip airshed area was 432, compared to 412 the previous year. 77 substances from 99 sources were found. The major source of emissions was motor vehicles, and diffuse data in the region was collected from 45 sources.
Three of the five criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide) are in the top five substances emitted to air in the Port Phillip region. The other major pollutants in this airshed are total volatile organic compounds and ammonia. There was no change in the top five substances in this airshed from the 2002-03 reporting year.
Motor vehicle emissions to air of five criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, lead and compounds, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter 10 micrometres in diameter or less and sulfur dioxide) compared with industry and other diffuse source emissions to air are shown in the following graph. The criteria pollutants are the focus of the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure.
The major sources of sulfur dioxide from industry in the airshed were electricity supply, petroleum refining and non-ferrous metal manufacturing. Non-ferrous metal manufacturing was also a major source of lead and compounds, along with water supply, sewerage and drainage services and glass and glass product manufacturing.
Pollutant emissions to water comprise both facility emissions and diffuse emissions. Diffuse emissions are estimated within defined water catchments and usually (but not always) only include estimates of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.
In 2003-04, industry facilities reported emissions of 69 NPI pollutants to water, and nine NPI pollutants were estimated for diffuse sources in the catchments.
The major substances reported to water in 2003-04 and the change compared to 2002-03 is shown below.
| Substance | Total emissions 2002-03 (kg/year) |
Total emissions 2003-04 (kg/year) |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia (total) | 21 million | 21 million | Steady |
| Sulfuric acid | 19 million | 4 million | >79% decrease |
| Boron and compounds | 1.9 million | 1.4 million | >26% decrease |
| Manganese and compounds | 1.4 million | 1.3 million | >8% decrease |
| Fluoride compounds | 1.3 million | 1.2 million | >8% decrease |
Sectors that are major emitters of substances to water include: water, sewerage and drainage; oil and gas extraction; and mineral, metal and chemical wholesaling.
The human nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. In high concentrations, mercury can permanently damage the brain, kidneys and developing foetus. Methyl mercury builds up in the tissues of fish and shellfish. In areas of mercury contamination, larger and older fish tend to have higher levels of mercury. Once emitted, mercury and its compounds remain in the environment.
In 2003-04, 168 facilities reported mercury and compounds emissions to water. This is 23 per cent more than the previous reporting year and represents around 5 per cent of all NPI reporting facilities. Emissions of mercury and compounds to water from industry have not increased despite the growth in the number of facilities reporting the substance in 2003-04. There are variations among the sectors from year to year for emissions of this substance, but overall it is estimated that 218 kilograms of mercury and compounds were emitted to water in 2003-04 compared with 221 kilograms in 2002-03.
The top industry sector emissions of mercury and compounds to water are shown on the graph below.
Urban and regional catchments generally have different sources of substances such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus. In populated areas, the major sources are more likely to be facilities, such as sewage treatment plants and urban run off. In regional areas diffuse sources such as run off from bushland and land used for cropping and grazing are more likely to be important.
The following chart shows an example of three catchments that have different land uses and emissions of total phosphorus. Port Phillip Bay in Victoria is predominantly urban. The Richmond River catchment in NSW is mainly rural, while the Derwent River catchment in Tasmania has a mixture of urban and rural land uses such as aquaculture, paper and paper product manufacturing and agriculture.
Emissions to land include seepage into soil and groundwater, as well as accidental spills, and leaks from facilities. The only emissions to land that are reported to the NPI are from facilities such as factories, not from diffuse sources such as motor vehicles. The deposition of materials into landfills is not reported, but emissions from landfills are reported.
The largest emissions to land from landfill facilities were chlorine and ammonia. Landfill emissions can be found on the NPI database by looking at the waste disposal sector or the public order and safety services sector.
There were 73 NPI pollutants reported as being emitted to land in 2003-04. The top five NPI pollutant emissions to land were: ammonia, chlorine, chromium (III) compounds, copper and compounds and nickel and compounds.
Ammonia is a chemical made by both man and nature. Since ammonia occurs naturally in the environment, we are regularly exposed to low levels of ammonia in air, soil, and water.
Ammonia is a powerful irritant. Exposure to ammonia can be by inhalation of fumes, or by swallowing water or food containing ammonia. The harmful effects of exposure to high levels of ammonia can be severe burns on your skin, eyes, throat, or lungs. Chronic long-term exposure to ammonia can lead to shortened lifespan of animals, lower fertility and changes in appearance and behaviour.
In 2003-04, 234 facilities from 14 industry sources reported ammonia emissions to land. This is eleven per cent more than the previous reporting year and represents around 6 per cent of all NPI reporting facilities. Of all the facilities that reported ammonia to land in 2003-04, 82 per cent had reported the same substance in the previous year.
The top industry sector emissions of ammonia to land are shown on the graph below. Emissions to land have generally increased, mainly due to the increase in intensive livestock facilities reporting. The intensive animal-raising sector consists of the intensive raising of beef, pigs and poultry. Poultry is raised for both eggs and meat. Intensive animal-raising sectors emit over half of Australia's ammonia emissions.
