[Greens-Media] School heater gas test designed to fail

[John Kaye]

School heater gas test designed to fail 

Media release: 16 August 2009

The Rees government is avoiding the unpleasant truth that more than fifty thousand unflued gas heaters in public school classrooms around NSW are exposing students to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide, according to Greens  NSW MP John Kaye

Commenting on a story in today's Sun Herald ('Class heater tests not up to scratch, experts fear', Sun Herald, 16 August 2009, p. 10), Dr Kaye said: "Using testing equipment that is too insensitive to detect the small levels of nitrogen dioxide means that yet again these dangerous heaters will be given a clean bill of health that they do not deserve.

"Nitrogen dioxide increases the risk of asthma and allergies and the incidence of cancer in later life.

"Using cheap Aeroqual equipment, rather than the chemiluminescence analysers required by the Australian Standards, guaranties the answer that NSW Education Minister Verity Firth and her department want.

"Labor's succession of education ministers from John Aquilina to Verity Firth have ignored the reality of unflued gas heaters and the impacts they have on young people's lungs

"The NSW government's own Department of Health advised private schools to get rid of these outdated and polluting heaters.

"It is double standards that they are still tolerated in NSW public schools. It is criminal neglect that the Rees government continues to install them in classrooms around the state.

"Minister Firth should order her department to end the years of deception and use the chemiluminescence analysers. 

"Unflued gas heaters should be banned," Dr Kaye said.

The Sun Herald story is available at:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/class-heater-tests-not-up-to-scratch-experts-fear-20090815-elp8.html

For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455