Queensland Locals Fuming as Mine Blasts Send Toxic Clouds into Neighbourhood

Peter Faulkner, chairman of the Oakey Coal Action Alliance, fears fumes from the blasting at the Acland mine, west of Brisbane, will affect local residents. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen Source: The Australian

CLOUDS of toxic gas are regularly billowing out of Queensland's giant open-cut coalmines from explosive blasts but neighbouring residents say they are not being warned about the dangers of these "fume events".

Official data reveals that since January, the fumes - "oxides of nitrogen" that have caused deaths and injuries at and near mines overseas - have reportedly travelled outside safe exclusion zones 33 times at 16 Queensland coalmines. However, official bodies have not alerted neighbouring residents and farmers to the presence of the toxic fumes because the Queensland government says they are dissipating before posing any health threat.

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The Australian