Survey says airborne mercury pollution from stations in Victoria’s Latrobe valley increased 37% in just 12 monthsAirborne mercury pollution from coal-fired power stations in Victoria’s Latrobe valley increased 37% in just 12 months, according to an annual national survey of toxic emissions. The brown coal burning power station produced more than 640 times the airborne mercury pollution of Eraring power station near Newcastle, New South Wales. Eraring, Australia’s largest coal-fired power station, produces three times the energy of Loy Yang B power station but reported just 1.3kg of airborne mercury pollution in 2016-17, a reduction of 97% over the past five years. Latrobe valley’s four coal-fired power stations produced more than 2,000kg of airborne mercury pollution in 2016-17, more than the power stations of any other state or territory. Loy Yang B is one of the five dirtiest coal-fired power stations in the country.

Source: The Guardian April 03, 2018 18:00 UTC