Publications
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005
ISBN 0642551308
The map below shows the location of NPI reporting facilities for 2003-04 as blue dots, as well as the locations of completed diffuse emission studies for water catchments and airsheds. Regions included in diffuse studies cover more than 75 per cent of Australia's population.
Emissions from sources like aeroplanes and motor vehicles, as well as from activities such as cigarette smoking and lawn mowing, are estimated by state and territory agencies. Emissions from facilities that do not reach the reporting threshold levels are also included in the diffuse emissions.
Diffuse emissions data shows the contribution of non-industrial sources to Australia's pollutant emissions. Diffuse emissions are not estimated annually.
Most of the 90 NPI substances are considered in diffuse emissions to air in airshed studies. However, only total nitrogen and total phosphorus are determined in most water catchments.
The boundaries of NPI airsheds are selected by government agencies. 33 studies were completed by the end of 2003-04, covering all capital cities and many urban regions in Australia. In 2003-04 the Ballarat, Bendigo, Latrobe Valley, Mildura and Port Phillip regional studies were updated.
The boundaries of water catchments are determined by the drainage of interconnected river systems, and sometimes cross state or territory borders. To date, 32 catchment studies have been completed for the main urban and rural areas in Australia.
The major diffuse sources of pollutant emissions to air are listed in the table below. The most significant diffuse source across the nation is motor vehicles. See Motor vehicle emissions to air in the Port Phillip airshed for a closer look at substance emissions from cars and other vehicles.
Facilities such as factories, mines, and intensive animal-raising enterprises report annually when they exceed NPI reporting thresholds for any of the 90 NPI substances.
The graph below shows that the number of reporting facilities has increased in most jurisdictions. The total number of reporting facilities in 2003-04 was 3,618 compared to 3,364 the previous year - an increase of 6.5 per cent.
In 2003-04, 382 facilities reported for the first time while 242 facilities that reported the previous year did not do so in 2003-04. Facilities may fall below the NPI reporting thresholds where previously they were above them because of:
Facilities are grouped into industry sectors using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) codes. This enables facilities to compare their results against other facilities in the same ANZSIC code, and for the community and policy makers to track emissions from different industries.
Several sectors showed improvement in certain areas. For example, the electricity supply sector has seen significant reductions in oxides of nitrogen, lead and compounds and chlorine. The mining and metals sectors are two of the fastest-growing sectors in the Australian economy. Although overall emissions from these sectors are higher this year due to the raised output, there has been a reduction in the emissions of lead and compounds. Lead and compounds emissions from industry decreased significantly from 710 thousand kilograms in 2002-2003 to 490 thousand kilograms in 2003-2004.
The graph below shows the industry sectors that have the highest pollutant emissions in 2003-04. This is determined by the proportional contribution from various emission sources compared to the previous reporting year.
Some sectors, such as mining industries, are big industries and by their nature are large emitters. Other sectors have many facilities reporting to the NPI but contribute relatively little to pollutant emissions. For example, the intensive poultry-farming sector has a high proportion of NPI facilities but does not make a large contribution to total emissions.
Note: Substances are not added together to get this graph. The table looks at the proportion of pollutant emissions from various emission sources. A similar approach is used for the location reports on the NPI web site.
The NPI database can be used to generate a report for a specific industry sector. The cement and lime manufacturing sector is one example of a major industry sector reporting to the NPI. The sector makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy. Facilities in this sector are engaged in producing products for building and construction.
A total of 27 facilities reported on 40 substances in the 2003-04 reporting year, one more facility than the previous year. This sector is a major emitter of carbon monoxide, mercury and mercury compounds, and polychlorinated dioxins and furans.
In the past year the cement and lime manufacturing sector reported decreased emissions for most substances. For some other substances, such as carbon monoxide, reported emissions increased.
Changes in reported emissions can be due to improved environmental performance, changes to the process, installation of pollution control equipment such as fabric filters and updated determination techniques.
Emissions of some NPI substances from the cement and lime manufacturing sector for the past two years are in the following table.
| Substance to air, land and water | 2002-03 (kg/year) |
2003-04 (kg/year) |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic and compounds | 100 | 77 | 25% decrease |
| Mercury and compounds | 520 | 520 | No change |
| Substance to air | |||
| Carbon monoxide | 6.7 million | 11 million | 75% increase |
| Formaldehyde | 7,700 | 7,400 | 4% decrease |
| Particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter | 2.2 million | 2.0 million | 6% decrease |
| Polychlorinated dioxins and furans | 0.015 | 0.012 | 24% decrease |
| Sulfur dioxide | 1.6 million | 1.5 million | 1% decrease |
| Substance to water | |||
| Total nitrogen | 15,000 | 4,700 | 70% decrease |