Outdoor air quality

You may be surprised to learn that the biggest polluter of our air is not industry, but motor vehicles, which are responsible for about half of Melbourne's air pollution in summer. Poor air quality can cause respiratory illnesses, allergies, asthma, coughing and headaches.

• Common contributors to poor air quality include:
• Car fumes which release carbon monoxide.
• Back-burning in fire-risk areas releasing carbon monoxide.
• Industry fumes and manufacturing processes, releasing carbon monoxide, methane and chemical pollutants .
• Dust and airborne particulates in dry and dusty areas, commonly from browned-off lawns, soccer pitches, renovation sites or nearby car traffic.
• In strong sunlight, photochemical reactions can create high levels of ozone. This is called a summer smog event.
• Sometimes winds cause pollutants to be re-circulated around the Port Phillip region. As smog levels build, polluted air from Melbourne can be returned, typically on a sea breeze. This means that in the evening you can end up breathing the exhaust fumes emitted by your car that morning. Also, winds can cause high pollen levels from grasses and air-pollinating trees, causing asthma, hay fever and allergies.

 

For more information on air quality in and around Port Phillip, visit the website of the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.