Pilbara residents flag health concerns over mining dust

Newman, 1,156 kilometres north of Perth, is surrounded by an abundance of iron ore mines that Mr Wilmot believes may have contributed to his chronic breathing condition.

"We live pretty much in a dome of dust," he said.

The funeral director said he routinely saw plumes of dust from the mine sites on the horizon that travelled to the town and enveloped it in a haze of dust.

Newman was ranked the second most polluted place in Australia, which led to Mr Wilmot questioning what he was breathing in.

"The fact that Wittenoom is just up the road and that we are getting significant amounts of dust that we`re breathing in, naturally the question comes up," he said.

"What are we breathing in, knowing there are asbestos seams around us?"

Residents call for air quality tests
In a letter to WA Health Minister Roger Cook and the Department of Health, the Port Hedland Community Progress Association had asked for air in Port Hedland and Newman to be analysed for asbestos and silica, as well as health screenings for the community.

Iron ore mined in WA travels to Port Hedland via train, where it is exported out of what is the largest bulk handling port in the world.

Stockpiles of iron ore are located relatively close to residential areas, as well at Nelson Point.

Dust pollution has led to the State Government offering a voluntary buy back of 400 homes in the suburb of West End.

Association president Jan Ford said she was worried about the life expectancy for people who lived close to the mines, as well as residents in Port Hedland.

"[We want] to make sure that there is nothing in the air that is going to cause a problem for people with their respiration and we want some chest X-rays and some tests," she said.

"We have quite a common issue of bronchitis and asthma for people living in Port Hedland."

Ms Ford said the community group also wanted the air in Newman and Port Hedland to be tested for asbestos and silica.

"If we analyse for any elements that are in the earth, which would be the silica and the asbestos, then the idea is to say, `Well, OK — is it in the air?`" she said.

"Hopefully there`s not and hopefully our [mining] practices are strong enough."

Industry recognises mitigation needs to improve
Miner BHP said in a statement that it continued to work constructively with other operators in the area, including FMG and Roy Hill, through the Port Hedland Industry Council to manage air quality under the processes the Government had put in place.

There is an industry-funded air quality monitoring network in Port Hedland, which is the responsibility of the Department of Water and Environment Regulation (DWER).

A spokesperson said DWER was focussed on procuring air quality morning services so that it had full control and oversight of the Port Hedland ambient monitoring network.

The BHP spokeswoman said the miner recognised a "shared responsibility with other port users and the Town of Port Hedland to control dust".

"Our dust mitigation methods continue to improve," she said.

"BHP plans to invest up to a further $300 million over five years to improve air quality and reduce dust emissions across its Pilbara operations."

Report says asbestos fibre levels low
A 2016 report released by the Environmental Health Directorate Port Hedland Air Quality Health Risk Assessment for Particulate Matter, used data collected in 2013 and 2014.

The report said the greatest health risk was posed by PM10 — very small particles found in dust.

The report said mineral asbestiform fibres were present in the ore that processed at Port Hedland.

Samples were taken at a number of monitoring sites in 2014.

All the samples collected were at or below the level of detection of 0.01 fibres per millilitre, in line with the WA Department of Health guidelines for asbestos.

"As all samples were below the level of detection, no assessment of the risk to the Port Hedland population was required," the report said.