MOST air-quality monitoring sites in a new network planned for the Upper Hunter will not identify levels of potentially harmful very fine dust particles because there is no national measuring standard, the State Government says.
It has provoked criticism from one air-quality expert, and calls from some in the community for the monitoring to be as comprehensive as possible.
The Government has struck an agreement with the coal industry for a regionally co-ordinated network of monitors near Singleton, Muswellbrook and further up the valley to be set up this year.
Fourteen sites would measure levels of dust particles of 10 microns (a hundredth of a millimetre) or less.
Known as PM10s, they can cause respiratory problems and other health effects.
National Pollutant Inventory data shows mines in Singleton and Muswellbrook emitted more than 50,000 tonnes of PM10s in 2007-08. Smaller particles, about 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5s) or less, are considered more harmful but levels are not recorded on the database.
A Department of Environment spokeswoman said a second monitor would be placed at three of the sites to identify PM2.5 levels, as the other monitors could not distinguish those from all particles smaller than 10 microns that were measured.
Because there was no national measuring standard of PM2.5, the three monitors would provide "background data", which would be useful if a standard was introduced.
The spokeswoman said the monitoring would be comprehensive. PM10s were the highest proportion of dust particles that coal mines emitted.
University of Newcastle conjoint associate professor Howard Bridgman said all sites should assess PM2.5 levels, related to burning of fuel for trucks and power station emissions.
"PM2.5 is now the key particle for health. They're small enough to get down into people's lungs," he said.
"I really do think based on my experience. . . that setting up a network depending only on PM10 is the wrong way to go."
Conjoint Associate Professor Bridgman said equipment was available to monitor both, but it might be more expensive.
Singleton Deputy Mayor Paul Nichols said it was "wishy washy" for the smaller particles to be identified at only some sites.
"We've got one chance to [set this up] properly," Cr Nichols said.
The spokeswoman said the department was still accepting comments about the network.
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