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Calls to cover coal train wagons in Queensland

Coal train dust could be contributing to a dramatic reduction in lung function in Brisbane children, a paediatrician has warned.

Up to 10 trains a day carry coal through Brisbane without any form of cover to prevent dust from flying into the air.

Dr Merryn Redenbach, a public health doctor formerly of Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, said extensive US research had revealed children living in polluted environments had up to a 20 per cent reduction in lung function at 18 when compared to unexposed children.

No long-term studies have been done into the effects of coal dust on the respiratory health of both children and adults but Dr Redenbach, who now works for Doctors for the Environment Australia, said there was already enough evidence of ill-health effects to warrant coal wagons being covered.

"We do think there is a need for studies that look at the long-term impact on communities. The issue is those studies take a long time and we already have enough evidence to show that people's health is harmed by increasing levels of particulate matter," she said.

"It doesn't look like there's any safe level, which means we really should be trying to minimise people's exposure and we don't need to wait for long term studies to tell us what we already know, that this is causing harm to people.

"The evidence exists we should be covering coal wagons."

Queensland acting environment minister Scott Emerson said some coal companies had committed to veneering their coal loads, which reduced dust particles being blown into the air.

"The South West Users Group has commissioned DSITIA [Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts] to carry out a comprehensive dust monitoring program and New Acland coal mine has committed to a veneering project along the south west corridor," he said.

"The outcomes of these monitoring programs will deliver the baseline data that will help us establish a way forward."

Mr Emerson said the government was also working with the federal government to remove coal freight from urban corridors.

"The Newman Government has also committed to working with the Federal Government to deliver the inland rail corridor to take coal and freight trains off suburban lines," he said.

Dr Redenbach said veneering was a cheaper option than covering coal wagons and did not deal with the issue of coal trains returning from port, which was also a significant pollution issue.

"Some of the developments in Western Australia at the moment are covering wagons to and from the port and that is what should be expected all over Australia," she said.

"This is a developed country, we should be expecting the highest level of management.

"All parents have a right to know the air their children breathe is safe.


Source: brisbanetimes