DUST resulting from recent drier weather may have caused the air north-west of Singleton and around Mount Thorley to fail daily average national health standards.
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This is the view of the state Office of Environment and Heritage atmospheric science manager Chris Eiser in response to polluted air in both areas last Tuesday and Wednesday.
The government’s air monitors issued health alerts for north-west Singleton at 11pm last Tuesday and 10pm the following night.
Health alerts for Mount Thorley were issued for eight o’clock and 11 o’clock on Wednesday night.
The monitors record fine suspended particles that damage people’s respiratory tracts.
Mr Eiser said Environment Protection Authority officials had put all operating coalmines on legally binding pollution reduction programs to improve Upper Hunter air quality.
The programs require mining officials to assess current operations against best management practices to determine the most effective ways to reduce onsite dust emissions.
And the Upper Hunter air monitoring network of 14 monitors provides air quality alerts, Mr Eiser said.