- Title
- Rainfall harvesting and coal dust: the potential health impacts of trace elements in coal dust in rainwater
- Creator
- Lucas, S. A.; Coombes, P. J.; Planner, J.; Welchman, S.
- Relation
- Air Quality and Climate Change Vol. 43, Issue 2, p. 23-30
- Relation
- http://www.casanz.org.au/journal.asp
- Publisher
- Clean Air Society of Australia & New Zealand
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2009
- Description
- Coal dust contains trace elements of major/minor concern due to their potential impact on human health. Residential households in relatively close proximity to a coal dust source, such as a coal terminal, report that coal dust soils laundry and impacts upon visibility in the atmosphere. One question often asked is - does coal dust pose a threat to human health after being deposited on a rooftop and being washed into the rainwater tank? The answer lies in the likelihood and amount of coal dust (and trace elements) reaching the roof and being transferred to the tank; the potential for leaching of trace elements within the water column in the rainwater tank; and the water quality of rainwater at the point of use (kitchen tap). A range of coal types were supplied by the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) which reflected the likely composition of existing coal dust in the area. Leaching experiments were undertaken on a range of coal types (of particle size < 63 μm) to determine the extent of elemental leaching from the coal dust to the rainwater. In addition, water samples from three households (tanks and taps) in the Dalrymple Bay area were obtained and tested for elements considered both a major and minor concern in coal. Leaching experiments suggest that major/minor trace elements in the coal dust are not likely to be a main contributor to trace elements found in rainwater; and in fact may assist in removing some trace elements from the rainwater in the tank. Water samples from all three households recorded concentrations far lower than Australian Drinking Water Guidelines for all tested elements.
- Subject
- coal dust; rainwater; health impacts; trace elements
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/807275
- Identifier
- uon:7360
- Identifier
- ISSN:1836-5884
- Language
- eng
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