Air quality is important to us all, and poor air quality affects human health and the environment.

The air we breathe is a mixture of gases, and tiny solid and liquid particles.

Air pollution occurs when the air contains substances that can affect or even injure humans and animals, or damage plants or materials. These substances, air pollutants, can be in the form of tiny particles, liquids or gas.

Some substances come from natural sources, while others are caused by human activities such as cars, fires, industry, agriculture and business.

Perth, like most urban areas of Australia, occasionally suffers poor air quality— including photochemical smog in summer and particle haze during winter. Regional areas can also experience poor air quality, for example, from bushfires, dust storms, industrial facilities and hazard reduction burns.

Air Quality Management Branch

The branch provides strategic, technical, and policy advice on air quality matters such as ambient air quality, industrial emissions, odour modelling, meteorology, health standards and air toxics. It works with, and provides regular advice to: 

• the Minister for Environment
• the Environmental Protection Authority
• other parts of the Department of Environment and Conservation (licensing, environmental impact assessment and the regions)
• other State and local government agencies
• industry, and
• the community.