NEWCASTLE Greens councillors have called out the Environmental Protection Authority over its inaction to improve the Hunter's air quality.
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At a briefing to Newcastle council, EPA Hunter manager Adam Gilligan gave an update on the recent studies in air quality across the region.
The authority has not acted on any of its own recommendations made in 2011, which included covering up the coal wagons and washing down the empty ones.
Mr Gilligan said recent studies did not indicate covering coal wagons should be the major focus of the authority, and the problem was more complex.
He said diesel exhaust and wood smoke from Muswellbrook properties were also contributing factors.
Mr Gilligan said the EPA had increased the number of air monitoring stations across the Hunter to 14 and studies into the matter were continuing.
Councillors Therese Doyle and Michael Osborne want the council to call upon the NSW government to implement a policy to address coal dust concerns.
In a report presented to the council last year, the two councillors said airborne particulate matter in Newcastle frequently breached World Health Organisation recommended levels.
They said long-term exposure to particle pollution could lead to detrimental asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure.
A report on a recent upper house inquiry into the EPA is still being considered by the NSW chief scientist and will be released later this year.