Understanding Air Quality

Air quality is measured in ‘near real-time’ (almost instant) or as an ‘hourly average’ (the average of the reading in the previous hour). This is a reading of particulate matter (PM), measured as PM 2.5 (where 2.5 is the size in microns (µg) of the particle). PM 2.5 readings are measured per cubic metre, giving units of µg/m. The higher the PM 2.5 reading, the worse the air quality.

All states and territory governments have a web page providing information from their air quality monitors. See the table below:

State	Website
ACT	https://www.act.gov.au/environment/air-quality
New South Wales	https://www.airquality.nsw.gov.au/air-quality-in-my-area/concentration-data
Northern Territory	http://ntepa.webhop.net/NTEPA/Default.ltr.aspx
Queensland	https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/air-quality
South Australia	https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_info/air_quality/new-air-quality-monitoring
Tasmania	https://epa.tas.gov.au/environment/air/monitoring-air-pollution/monitoring-data/real-time-air-quality-data-for-tasmania
Victoria	https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/check-air-and-water-quality
Western Australia	https://der.wa.gov.au/your-environment/air/air-quality-index

Note: other than AirHealth, there are many websites and apps that provide air quality information. Be careful when looking at this information, as not all of it comes from reliable or trustworthy sources. It can also be presented in different units to those used in Australia, and/or measured against international standards that are different from those used in Australia.

Understanding Air Quality

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