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CSIRO has been commissioned by the Western Australian Government to complete
the first ever study into the possible effects of industrial emissions
on Aboriginal rock art on the Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara region of
Australia’s remote northwest. The four-year monitoring program, supported
by the local Aboriginal communities, involves monitoring air pollutants
by CSIRO Atmospheric Research, studies of colour changes by CSIRO Manufacturing
and Infrastructure Technology, and investigation of the mineral composition
of the rock surfaces by CSIRO Exploration and Mining. The project is in
collaboration with Murdoch University, who are carrying out microbiological
studies of the rock surface.
The CSIRO Atmospheric Research component of the project, led by Mr Rob
Gillett and involving Dr Greg Ayers, will establish sampling systems in
consultation with the local Aboriginal community at seven sites, from
north Burrup, Gidley Island and Dolphin Island to close to the industrial
areas. They will identify and measure ambient concentrations of a range
of pollutants and dust in the air and on the rock surfaces, as well as
monitoring the microclimate. At each site they will measure nitrogen dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, ammonia, BTEX gases (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and
xylenes), aerosols such as air pollutant particles and dust, as well as
rain, temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction. The collected
gas, particle and weather data will be used to establish the origin of
air pollutants and dust, to address concerns about possible effects of
current and future industry emissions on the rock art of the Burrup Peninsula.
More information: http://www.doir.wa.gov.au/investment/D78FA8400D554422991853F5A8B0263F.asp
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