Toxic dust from Australia polluting NZ

Toxic dust from Australia polluting the South Island
Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:19p.m.

An Australian scientist has made a surprising discovery in the South Island's glaciers - heavy metals that have blown here from Australia.

For decades researchers have been tracking harmless clouds of dust that has ended up here from across the ditch.

But they did not expect it to contain toxic material.

This red dust has been carried by the wind from the Australian outback to the South Island's pristine fox glacier - and it has brought a whole lot of other nasties with it too.

‘The dust samples transported to New Zealand are highly enriched in a number of heavy metals that are commonly associated with industrial processes’, Dr Samuel Marx says.

They are metals like copper, nickel and lead that belch out of industrial plants and factories along Australia’s east coast before attaching themselves to dust particles that blow across the Tasman.

‘What we don't know at this stage is how much of these pollutants are being incorporated into the environment and that really controls what affect they're likely to be having’, says Dr Marx

Smoke from Australian bush fires provides a graphic illustration of what the prevailing winds can bring to our shores when the westerly picks up.

It's the same wind that is blowing the dust and metals here and while scientists aren't surprised, they say it highlights another threat to New Zealand’s image.

NIWA is considering how to more closely monitor the pollutants to see what long term affects they may have on the environment.

 

Yeah, I know. Its just a bit of neighbourly needling. We send them our best musicians and Rugby League players, and they send us toxic dust.

Could have been much worse, they could have sent us some of their politicians.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AussieOwner @ Aug 17 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]497368[/snapback]</div>

:lol: :lol:

I do miss John Clarke (our Fred Dagg), but I guess we'll let you keep Russell Crowe. B)

Ok, so most of the Prii we see here in EnnZed are used Japanese imports ('cause we can't afford them NZ-New). Izzit the same on your side of the ditch? Or you mostly getting the new stuff instead?

And lastly, Come on World Cup!!