Air Pollution and Health: Key facts for the media

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It is an indication of how clean or polluted the air is, and what the associated health effects are and the sensitive groups who might be affected.

You can find your local air quality forecast and hourly air quality updates from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC).

On the DECC website you can subscribe to alerts that will be sent to you via sms or email when your local air quality reaches unhealthy levels.

If you have limited Internet access, you can call the Pollution Line: 131 555

A health alert is issued when the AQI is likely to be above 100 the next day.

When the AQI is in the "POOR" range the alert targets the groups known to be sensitive to that type of pollution.

The alert also provides advice to watch for symptoms, have reliever medicine nearby, and seek medical advice if any symptoms that do arise don't settle by using reliever medication and resting. The alert also states whether remaining indoors will help to reduce exposure.

If the AQI is in the "VERY POOR" and "HAZARDOUS," range, the alert is relevant to everyone.

For sensitive groups the advice given in the "POOR" alert still applies, but additionally it includes advice on staying inside and limiting exercise.

A health alert will be issued at 4pm for the next day. The alert will be available on the Department of Environment and Climate Change as well as the Warning Summary Sydney Forecast issued by the Bureau of Meteorology .

Some news services report the health alert during the weather forecast.

• coughing
• throat irritation
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• painful or difficult breathing and
• premature ageing of the lung

• chronic bronchitis
• coughing
• chest tightness
• shortness of breath and
• painful or difficult breathing

People with lung diseases like asthma and COPD, and children who are active outdoors are at greater risk from ground-level ozone.

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children are at greater risk from particle pollution.

If the air quality index is high sensitive groups are advised to exercise outdoors when ozone or particle pollution levels are lower, and exercise away from busy roadways to avoid particle pollution.

If someone is having difficulty breathing or chest pain, he or she should stop strenuous activity.

People with asthma or lung disease should check with their doctors if they have any symptoms.

People with heart disease should check with their doctor before engaging in vigorous outdoor exertion when particle levels are high.

Particle pollution may occur at any time of year, but may be worse in the winter.

Ozone is of most concern in warmer months, since sunlight and warm temperatures increase ozone formation.

Sources of ground level ozone

• Air pollution is responsible for 2.3% of all deaths in Australia
• Between 640 and 1400 people die prematurely each year due to air pollution in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan region.
• Air pollution causes more premature deaths in NSW per year than road accidents
• Air pollution causes almost 2000 hospitalisations per year in Sydney Greater Metropolitan region
• Air pollution costs NSW around $ 4.7 billion dollars per year in health costs.