Air pollution reduces the quality of the air. Poor air quality affects human health and the environment. Air pollutants such as small particles (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) and ozone can harm your lungs and hearts.

Weather conditions, and events like fires can affect air pollution levels. For example, smoke from bushfires and wind-blown dust impact Victoria’s air quality.

EPA AirWatch shows air quality information from our monitoring network across the state. 

EPA monitors air quality in line with national and world standards. These include the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure and World Health Organization guidelines.

You can help improve Victoria’s air quality by:

• reporting smoky car exhausts
• not burning green waste or other rubbish
• keeping your car well-tuned and maintained
• turning off your car engine when not moving
• using public transport, cycling or walking instead of driving, especially for short trips
• using wood heaters efficiently, or switching to gas or electric heating.

Poor indoor air quality can also harm your health. You can improve indoor air quality by not smoking inside, using extractor fans when cooking, and ensuring your gas and wood heaters have the correct type of flues.

To help improve air quality, EPA made submissions to the:

• 2013 Australian Government Senate Committee inquiry on air quality
• Victorian Government’s Air Quality Strategy, set for release in 2019.