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Introduction
Health and wellbeing refer to a condition when mental, physical and emotional characteristics are stable. In addition, it also involves the hygienic conditions of the environment where people reside. Therefore, these terms are significant in explaining the importance of observing cleanliness and safety measures to ensure human life is not affected. This case study presents an assessment and recommendations of health and wellbeing issues.
Summary of Risks Presented in the Case Study
The case study has explored seven health challenges (classified into two broad categories) that affect people and their environment. The first group involves hazards that affect human beings directly and include all the threats water, gas and land may pose. The second part describes the issues related to health hazards as well as environment and economy.
The case study highlights the fact that recent developments in Australian mining field have led to the environmental degradation. The coal seam gas has significantly contributed to the degradation of the environment due to the toxic gas produced during the production of methane. The Group Against Gas argues that this gas has affected the underground water purification system and contaminated water used for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.
The economic pressure to develop Australian economy is to be largely blamed for ignoring the future threats posed by a degenerated underground water purifying system. The system which is used to mine coal causes leakage that weakens the coal seam and allows carbonated water to seep into cracks and crevices created by the hydraulic actions used in mining.
The New South Wales Legislative Council compares the methods used to mine coal in Australia and the United States of America, and explains that the American model contains the mining effluent within deep strata that are impermeable and resistant to hydraulic fracturing. In addition, it argues that most Australian mining companies do not consider the chemical compositions of the components used in mining.
The International Energy Agency conducted a research and discovered that the effects of ‘produced water’ cause health complications due to the chemicals present in it (bicarbonate and chlorides that lower concentrations of calcium, magnesium and sodium in natural water). Evaporation ponds were used to treat the water, but they have become ineffective due to high siltation and the demand for other activities on the land. Irrigation and recycling have been effective ways of managing the effects of pollutants in the water, used in mining activities even though this is determined by the amount of toxic substances in it.
The extraction of coal seam gas involves the use of water, chemicals and sand to fracture rocks containing the gas; this process has affected the alignment of underground rocks and the Great Artesian Basin. In addition, it has led to emission of toxic gases that have affected the environment because chemicals used in extracting coal seam gas have been noted to have serious effects on respiratory systems, mucus membranes and photosynthesis in plants. The gases produced include methane and carbon monoxide from extraction processes and engines respectively. These gases have affected the ozone layer and exposed the earth to health risks like skin infection and cancer.
In addition, the case has presented serious issues involving land pollution because of the methods used to mine coal seam gas. Other related land degradation processes have occurred due to the effects of the methods and chemicals used in mining. The most reported potential risks of soil degradation include the high levels of bicarbonates and chlorine in the soil that have affected the nutritional value of the soil and led to poor yields in the adjacent lands. In addition, the mining process uses chemicals that reduce calcium and chlorine in water, therefore, the nutrients available in the soil are diluted by water used to mine the coal.
In addition, the International Energy Agency discovered that Australians have inadequate land for other activities since the land used for mining is already depleted and cannot be used for agriculture or settlement. These chemicals are non biodegradable and thus they remain on the ground for many years before they are diluted or washed away by the underground water. People cannot live in a land that has been exposed to the extraction processes described above, since these lands are left barren and unused due to the effects of the chemicals contained in the soil. Australians are suffering from food shortages even though mining is very profitable compared to agriculture.
Menzies School of Health Research discovered that the risks associated with mining in Australia have forced the government to amend and implement land use policies. This includes land zoning policies that will ensure Australians use their lands wisely. Zoning refers to the allocation of land for specific purposes, for instance, the selection of regions with mineral resources. People are not allowed to farm or engage in other land-food related activities since these regions are usually exposed to land pollution. These policies ensure that land is divided into commercial, residential, industrial, institutional and recreational land.
In addition, the Australian Planning and Management Services claimed that the public health policies regarding land use have been established to ensure mining companies do not pollute the environment. The government has established measures to address these issues by demanding that, these companies should participate in corporate social responsibilities to ensure they protect the environment. Public activities like tree planting have become mandatory undertakings to ensure the companies continue to protect natural resources and prevent land degradation.
Miller and Roots argue that food security has become a serious concern in Australia even as the world struggles to maintain a constant supply of fresh food. Even though, genetically modified products are gaining popularity, Australians are very reluctant to embrace this technology and wish to maintain their traditional practices. However, this is an exercise in futility since the demand for food surpasses the ability to supply natural food to Australians.
In addition, fertile lands have been exploited which leaves Australians without options except for to embrace the use of artificial farming methods. The Australian Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee raised concern over the impacts of coal seam mining on food security and proposed immediate measures to be taken to control the impacts of these companies on the environment and increase food supply.
The committee argues that Australia has a unique biodiversity that attracts tourists from various countries. It has mammals, flowers and reptiles that cannot be found in other areas. However, the need for land to construct houses and the demand for additional houses initiated by rapid urbanization are major threats to the existence of these unique features. In addition, coal seam mining is a significant blow to the already stressed natural resources. The processes used in mining are serious threats to the heritage, biodiversity and the existence of the healthy environment, therefore, the health of human beings is at risk if these issues are not managed.
Lastly, the psycho social risks associated with coal seam mining are devastating and affect farmers and their families. In addition, urban residents have complained of unhygienic drinking water and contaminated vegetables and fruits. Young people have been left wondering what will happen in the future if these companies are allowed to continue using their land for their benefits. Menzies School of Health Research claimed that workers in these mining companies are exposed to respiratory infections, skin cancer and burns from steam engines. In addition, there is a lot of noise produced by these machines, which may impair their hearing abilities.
Other hazards include falling into open holes drilled by these machines and the open water treatment plants. The Australian Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee conducted a research and found out that workers have drowned in these open ponds since there are no fences to protect people from entering these sites without permission.
Recommendations
The Australian government must establish a task force to conduct research on the impacts of the activities of these companies to the environment. The findings should be used with other previous results to form a detailed picture of the situation at hand. Secondly, thier task force should recommend immediate measures to address these issues and adopt strategic plans that will ensure similar future occurrences are eliminated. Secondly, these companies must copy some of the methods used in other countries like the United States of America and adopt environmental friendly mining methods. The chemicals used in mining must not contain toxic elements, if so, they should be in minimal concentrations.
It is necessary to tour mining companies in the United States to ensure the Australian miners learn various environmental friendly approaches to mining. Thirdly, the government has already put in place measures to ensure public health is maintained. However, it should enforce these policies by ensuring that they are implemented fully. There is no need to have good policies in cabinets and office shelves when they can improve the health of Australians.
Lastly, rules and policies are made to regulate human behavior and ensure people interact without conflicts. In addition, they are established to promote human and environmental wellbeing. The costs involved in conducting research and paying people is usually enormous. This shows how the Australian government is committed to improving community and environmental health. Therefore, it should enact harsh penalties to those that are culpable of these offences.
Coal seam mining companies should not take advantage of lenient punishments to pollute the environment and expose people to health risks. Therefore, this government must ensure these companies abide by the regulations set or else they should be forced to close their operations and relocate to other countries. These should not be any compromise on a any person since human life has no substitutes. Human life cannot be compared to the profits generated through mining activities. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure mining does not affect other important activities in the society.
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