Difference between revisions of "Toxic heavy metals in Tasmania"

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'''Toxic heavy metals in Tasmania''' is one of the priority areas of the [[Pollution Information Tasmania]], a community network dedicated to investigating and documenting pollution in the state of Tasmania, Australia.<ref>[http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/telling-the-truth-about-toxics-in-tasmania/ "Telling the Truth about Toxics in Tasmania"], ''Tasmanian Times'', August 2, 2009.</ref>. Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania is the working group conducting research and campaigning.
 
'''Toxic heavy metals in Tasmania''' is one of the priority areas of the [[Pollution Information Tasmania]], a community network dedicated to investigating and documenting pollution in the state of Tasmania, Australia.<ref>[http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/telling-the-truth-about-toxics-in-tasmania/ "Telling the Truth about Toxics in Tasmania"], ''Tasmanian Times'', August 2, 2009.</ref>. Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania is the working group conducting research and campaigning.
  
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== A MINING POLICY FOR TASMANIA ==
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== A DRAFT MINING POLICY FOR TASMANIA ==
  
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'''Toxic Heavy Metals Tasmania Taskforce''' (THMTT) and '''Tasmanian Public & Environmemtal Health Network''''s Mining Policy is underpinned by a call for a moratorium on all new mines in Tasmania. A future ''Mining Policy'' will require the Tasmanian Government to:  
+
'''Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania''' (THMTT) and '''Tasmanian Public & Environmemtal Health Network''''s Mining Policy is underpinned by a call for a moratorium on all new mines in Tasmania. A future ''Mining Policy'' will require the Tasmanian Government to:  
  
 
*  Return to Government regulation, with monitoring, and policing of polluting activities by mining companies.  Self regulation by mining companies does not work.
 
*  Return to Government regulation, with monitoring, and policing of polluting activities by mining companies.  Self regulation by mining companies does not work.

Revision as of 05:52, 16 October 2011

Toxic heavy metals in Tasmania is one of the priority areas of the Pollution Information Tasmania, a community network dedicated to investigating and documenting pollution in the state of Tasmania, Australia.[1]. Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania is the working group conducting research and campaigning.

A DRAFT MINING POLICY FOR TASMANIA

Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania (THMTT) and Tasmanian Public & Environmemtal Health Network's Mining Policy is underpinned by a call for a moratorium on all new mines in Tasmania. A future Mining Policy will require the Tasmanian Government to:

  • Return to Government regulation, with monitoring, and policing of polluting activities by mining companies. Self regulation by mining companies does not work.
  • Resource, staff and fund the Tasmanian Environment Protection Agency, Mineral Resources Tasmania and the Contaminated Sites Unit to regulate, monitor and police activities by mining companies.
  • Resource, staff and fund the Public and Environmental Health Service within the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services to conduct independent and thorough public and environmental health investigations in areas affected by mine pollution.
  • Refer applications for Mine exploration or mining leases on land that has Aboriginal heritage to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land & Sea Council for assessment and determination.
  • Review in consultation with farmers and communities all areas subject to exploration licenses and mining leases particularly prime agricultural land and land where communities could be affected.
  • Reject mine exploration licenses or mine leases to companies that breach human rights during their operations in other countries or do not comply in those countries with environmental guidelines operating in Australia.
  • Allocate a proportion of Resource Rent Tax on 50% of Mining company profits to fund:
  • Government regulation, monitoring and policing of mining activities.
  • Independent population based public and environmental health research at abandoned and existing mine sites where people's health or aboriginal heritage is at risk or environments, fauna and flora threatened.
  • Additional independent health services for miners and former miners and their families.
  • Update to parity with United States EPA Health Investigation Levels, Environmental Investigation Levels, trigger and remediation levels for metals and chemicals.
  • Conduct a Review of Mining Bonds to effectively fund the ""Mining Lands Rehabilitation Trust Fund to conduct effective remediation to protect human and environmental health.

30th September 2011

Arsenic in Tasmania - Public Health Investigations - Rosebery and Royal George Case Studies

[To be developed]

Acid Mine Drainage in Tasmania

[To be developed]

Do It Yourself Heavy Metal Testing kits

The LEAD Group Incorporated has designed test kits to test houses, gardens and play areas for toxic heavy metals. You take the samples (soil, house dust, suspicious paint flakes off household surfaces or childrens' toys, etc) and send them to be tested.

The basic 2-sample kit will test for lead Pb ($A50 per sample) with an extra $A9 per sample for each extra heavy metal test requested - e.g. arsenic, chromium, cadmium and copper. You pay the postage back to the testing lab; there is usually less than 2-week turnaround time for results.

The DYI testing brochure with information on the 2-sample and 8-sample kits are available.[2]

The Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania (THMTT) was set up by a group of Rosebery residents and other concerned Tasmanians

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

References

  1. ↑ "Telling the Truth about Toxics in Tasmania", Tasmanian Times, August 2, 2009.
  2. ↑ Do It Yourself sampling and lab test kits for heavy metals, The Lead Group Inc. [1]

External resources

  • The LEAD Group Inc. campaigns for the removal of lead from petrol and other products and conducts an advice,& information and counselling service about lead.

Reports

Reports for THMTT are listed below:


External articles

Media releases on Rosebery

Toxic Heavy Metals Taskforce Tasmania, Media releases for THMTT are listed below:

Media releases on Royal George and the St Pauls's and South Esk Rivers

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