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About This Booklet

Australians are concerned about air pollution. Across Australia, governments, industry and the community have worked over several decades to protect the quality of our air. These efforts have focused mainly on reducing the levels of six 'criteria' air pollutants in outdoor air-carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, lead and particles. These are well understood and are known to be harmful to human health.

Governments are now turning their attention to other aspects of air quality, including indoor air and a class of air pollutants called 'air toxics' that are found in air at very low concentrations. Although they are not as well understood as the six criteria pollutants, air toxics such as benzene and dioxins have the potential to cause long-term adverse health effects, including cancer in some cases. Air toxics arise from sources such as mining, smelting, manufacturing processes, domestic burning, house renovation and motor vehicles.

This booklet is a report to the community on the progress and achievements of the Living Cities-Air Toxics Program, a nationwide program established by the Commonwealth Government in July 1999. It focuses on air toxics and indoor air quality nationwide, as part of a broader initiative to address aspects of the urban environment.

The Living Cities-Air Toxics Program builds on the experience and expertise generated by the States and Territories during their long history of monitoring and controlling air pollution. A State of Knowledge Report: Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality is one significant achievement to date.

The booklet identifies activities undertaken to ensure that the quality of Australia's air, which is already good by world standards, is maintained and improved. It includes some practical advice on how individuals and households can contribute to the national efforts to improve air quality.