Major air pollutants from industry
Key Finding
National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) results show an increase in several air pollutant emissions from industry in recent years, reflecting increased demand in commodities.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) contains emission estimates for 93 pollutants that are emitted to the environment, predominantly from industrial sources.
In 2019, 861 Queensland facilities from 108 industry sectors were among the 4,151 facilities reporting emissions to the NPI nationally.
Across the state, primary metal manufacturing, coal mining and electrical supply are the main sources of industrial air pollutants.
The normalised annual emission chart for industrial sources in Queensland indicates rising levels from some pollutants over the past 7 years.
- The sulphur dioxide (SO2) trend is driven by the primary metal manufacturing sector.
- The coal mining sector is the major contributor for particulate matter up to 10 micrometres (PM10).
- Increases in both these substances reflect increased demand in commodities.
Totals for the selected industrial pollutant release in Queensland for 2019 were:
- Carbon monoxide (CO): 158,436 tonnes/annum
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): 14,894 tonnes/annum
- Lead and compounds: 106 tonnes/annum
- Sulphur dioxide: 506,749 tonnes/annum
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx): 269,252 tonnes/annum
- Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5µm (PM2.5): 12,200 tonnes/annum
- Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10µm (PM10): 293,791 tonnes/annum
- Benzene: 60 tonnes/annum
- Toluene: 127 tonnes/annum
- Xylenes: 115 tonnes/annum
- Formaldehyde: 1,248 tonnes/annum
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalents): 4 tonnes/annum.
More information:
Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets
Download data from Queensland Government data
Metadata
Change in emissions for major air pollutants extracted from the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) for 2010–2019.