What is air pollution?
Air pollution is a collective word we use to describe when chemicals, dust and other tiny particles get into outdoor air and change its natural quality. This polluted air has many different chemicals and gases that can harm your health, and it’s a big problem for everyone.
There is no safe amount of air pollution. Even a little bit of pollution can cause health problems.
How does polluted air affect your lungs?
Being exposed to polluted air can affect your lungs and lead to several short-term or long-term health effects.
Short-term health effects
These health effects you might feel quickly:
- Feeling breathless, wheezing, and a dry cough
- Sore eyes, nose, and throat
- Feeling tired
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Headaches and dizziness
- Asthma and other lung diseases getting worse
Long-term health effects
These health effects might happen over a longer time:
- Lungs not working as well
- Lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma
- Heart and/or blood problems
- Stroke
- Lung cancer
- Chest infections like pneumonia
- A shorter lifespan
Sources of air pollution
Air pollution in Australia can occur naturally, or be caused by things people do. This includes:
- Cars, trucks and other vehicles that run on gas, petrol or diesel
- Some commercial businesses and industrial activities
- Power stations that burn coal
- Wood heaters in homes
- Bushfires and planned burns
- Dust storms
Who is most at risk?
Air pollution can affect everyone, but some people are more likely to be harmed by it. These include:
- People with lung disease
- Pregnant women
- Older people
- Children
If you’re in a high-risk group, it’s a good idea to take steps to protect your lungs, especially on days when the air quality is bad.
How to protect your lungs from air pollution
When there’s a lot of pollution, like during a bushfire, try to avoid it by:
- Closing windows and doors to keep smoke out of your home.
- Sealing up gaps where smoke can get in, like around doors and windows.
- Avoiding exercise outside when there is high pollution levels or smoke.
- Resting more often and staying away from smoky areas if you can.
- Setting your air conditioner to recirculate air, or using an air cleaner with a special
HEPA filter. - Going to a place with cleaner air, like a library or a shopping centre.
- Wearing a P2/N95 mask when you’re outside, and inside if you need to.
Follow your action plan and treatment plan from your doctor, and keep your medications handy. If you have a lung disease and don’t have an action plan, talk to your GP.
Other ways you can support cleaner air
- Avoid smoking or vaping indoors
- Choose clean transportation: Drive less or choose electric vehicles. Where possible, use public transport, ride your bike, or walk to where you need to go
- Try and avoid using wood-burning stoves or heaters. Consider using a reverse-cycle air conditioner instead
- Avoid burning charcoal or wood for fun, like in backyard fire pits
- Avoid burning rubbish or leaves in your garden. It’s already banned in many places around Australia
- Planting trees can help clean the air. Trees soak up bad gases and their leaves can trap tiny bits of pollution. Try and choose trees that won’t have lots of pollen and cause allergies.
Smoke and air quality information
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) can let you know when a lot of smoke haze is expected in the weather forecast.
You can check air quality in your area right now with these websites:
Resources
- Understanding outdoor air pollution
- Living with a lung condition: outdoor air pollution
- The impact of climate change and air pollution on those living with lung disease: report
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