Air pollution in NSW north rising: report

Air pollution is exceeding national standards in several locations across NSW, with coalmining playing a significant part, an analysis has found.

During 2015, the highest 24-hour average concentrations of fine particle air pollution - which mainly comes from coal-fired power stations, motor vehicles and wood heaters - were recorded at Chullora (37.2), Rozelle (33.4) and Wollongong (31.6).

The highest annual average was recorded in the Newcastle suburb of Stockton, the NSW Environmental Protection Authority said.

Coarse particle pollution, which is largely caused by pollution from coal mines, meanwhile doubled in the last five years across the country.

In NSW, 40 of the state's 43 monitoring locations exceeded 24-hour average course particle pollution standards last year.

Newcastle suburbs recorded some of the highest concentrations of PM10 in the state, including Stockton (101.4), Mayfield (84.7) and Carrington (80.6).

In the Hunter Valley, more than 90 per cent of PM10 came from open cut coal mines, the NSW Environmental Protection Authority said.

Air particle pollution contributes to the premature deaths of more than 3000 Australians per year, and the health cost in the NSW Greater Metropolitan region is estimated to be around $4.7 billion per year, it said.

Environmental Justice Australia researcher Dr James Whelan has urged NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman to commit to controlling particle pollution in 2016.

"Controlling coal dust emissions from uncovered stockpiles and wagons would be a great start," he said.