Publications

• Facts on Air Pollution
• Tips on Reducing Air Pollution

If someone asked you if you cared about clean air, you'd probably say, 'Of course I do. It keeps me alive and well.' But mostly we don't even think about the air we breathe because it's always just 'there' and will always be there, right?

Wrong. Even though Australia's air quality is good compared with other places around the world, there's still a lot of work to do before we can breathe easy. Every day the air is filled with fumes and poisonous nasties, mostly from cars. Other gases and particles from wood smoke, for instance, can make you very sick. Below you'll find some interesting facts on air pollution, and some tips on simple steps you can take each day to help clean up the air you breathe.

Facts on air pollution

Six sickly substances can pollute the air, especially in cities, causing us harm:

• carbon monoxide
• nitrogen dioxide
• fine particles
• ozone
• sulfur dioxide
• lead

Smog is formed when chemicals in the air react with sunlight to produce the gas ozone. Smog can irritate your eyes, nose and lungs and make you cough. Some people have chest pains, and people with asthma might have more attacks, and might even have to go to hospital.

Wood smoke from open fires or your wood heater contains very fine particles that you can't see, but that can do a lot of damage. Wood smoke can cause asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, and can even cause heart attacks in some people.

Tips on reducing air pollution

• Try to convince your parents to use the car only when necessary, especially when public transport is available.
• If your family must use the car, try to share the trip with friends so less fumes are spewed into the air.
• Before you set out on a trip, think about whether you could get there by scooting, cycling or walking.
• Ask your teacher to order a free 'Smogbusters Way To School Kit'. The kit includes a teachers and parents manual, a student activities manual, two posters and a board game.
  Email natsmog@envict.org.au for further information.
• Try to limit the number of short car trips you make as a family by thinking ahead and carrying out a few tasks on one long trip. Longer trips allow a car's pollution control equipment to kick in to help reduce exhaust fumes.
• If you have a wood heater, you can reduce smoke by using dry, untreated wood.

Check out the web sites below for more information

• Australian Government Australia's Air Quality section
• Reducing Smoke from Woodheaters