Newsflash - Abbott orders probe into tunnel health risks

In recent news Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has ordered the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to research health impacts of tunnel pollution. This peak medical research body will investigate road tunnels amid fears that people's health has been put at risk by the states' response to population growth and traffic congestion.

Mr Abbott's decision comes amid vocal and ongoing concerns about the human toll of tunnel projects and the question over whether tougher regulation is needed.

As reported in the Australian, a spokeswoman said Mr Abbott's attention has been drawn to air quality concerns.

"I understand that Minister Abbott has received numerous expressions of concern about the issue of air quality around traffic tunnels in Sydney and Melbourne and sees it as his responsibility to ask Australia's peak medical research group to investigate," she said.

The NHMRC seeks to establish suitable exposure limits and possibly develop standards for air quality around tunnels. It has obtained initial data on levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, photochemical oxidants, sulphur dioxide, lead and particulate matter.

The CSIRO have previously revealed that emissions figures used by tunnel planners underestimated pollution levels. Sydney tunnels had emissions up to 100 per cent greater than estimated at the design phase.

Mr Abbott's announcement is welcomed by concerned Lane Cove Tunnel residents. It may provide people with much needed answers about the human impacts of tunnels, and may see future tunnels built to world's best practise standards using in-tunnel filtration.

The Lane Cove Tunnel is currently undergoing its first routine maintenance inspection this week. The westbound tunnel will be closed from 10pm to 5am Thursday. The eastbound tunnels will be closed from May 7 to May 10 from 10pm to 5am. This has caused some confusion as motorists are just getting used to the tunnel. There was a market police presense at the tunnel's east and west entrances yesterday.

By Kate Schneider

02-05-2007