Diesel fumes causing air pollution in Maribyrnong investigated

TOXIC diesel fumes which have left people living in Maribyrnong gasping for clean air will be investigated under a government-led initiative to improve air quality in Melbourne’s inner west.

TOXIC diesel fumes which have left Maribyrnong residents gasping for clean air will be investigated under a new government-led initiative to improve air quality in Melbourne’s inner west.

The Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group will examine pollution through a new air quality monitoring program with completion expected by mid-2019.

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According to the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation, Maribyrnong is a hotspot for childhood asthma with more hospital admissions for children with the disease and related illnesses than anywhere else in Victoria.

The study found that children aged between three and 19 were presented to hospital at a rate 72 per cent higher than the national average.

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Royal Melbourne Hospital respiratory medicine director Prof Lou Irving said diesel pollution had multiple effects on health, which ranged from premature death to issues such as respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart attack and stroke.

“Diesel is a class one carcinogenic and has a range of effects on lungs and other parts of the body,” he said.

Pollution in the inner west will be monitored.

A report by the Social Health Atlas of Australia showed Yarraville, Seddon and Kingsville had higher rates of lung cancer deaths than surrounding suburbs.

In 2014 Yarraville claimed the top toxic spot with some of the highest diesel pollution levels ever recorded in Australia, according to an Environmental Justice Australia report.

Cancer Council spokesman Paul Grogan said while studies showed diesel fumes could cause lung cancer, smoking accounted for 80 per cent of lung cancer cases.

The investigation follows a push from advocacy groups who say locals are suffocating from diesel-infused air.

Yarraville mother-of-two Fiona Jensen said she was concerned about her children breathing in toxic fumes.

“If had known just how bad the fumes were before we bought the house, I would have chosen differently,” she said.

The analysis team will include representatives from key community groups, residents, as well as staff from Hobson’s Bay, Brimbank and Maribyrnong Councils.

Maribyrnong Truck Action Group president Samantha McArthur said the group were in full support of the investigation, providing health experts were appointed to the initiative.

The Andrews Government did not respond to the Leader in regards to whether health experts would be onboard.

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