Air quality in a disaster

Smoke and dust from a bushfire and dust from a dust storm may affect your health.

Bushfire smoke contains toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and particles, all of which can be hazardous to your health.

Dust particles vary in size from coarse (non-inhalable), to fine (inhalable), to very fine (respirable). Coarse dust particles generally only reach as far as the inside of the nose, mouth or throat. However, smaller or fine particles can get much deeper into the sensitive regions of the respiratory tract and lungs.

Smoke and dust poses are greater health risk to certain sensitive groups, including:

• people with a heart or lung condition, including asthma
• people over the age of 65
• infants and children
• pregnant women.

Live air data and health action levels

The Queensland Department of Environment and Science in collaboration with industry partners operates an air quality monitoring network across the state. Data from the monitoring network is presented online as ambient concentration, air quality categories and smoke and dust health action levels which are updated hourly.

Health action levels have been developed by to support and inform the community on what actions to take to protect their health during a smoke and dust event.

Live air data | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government (des.qld.gov.au)

To protect your health from smoke and dust you should refer to the air quality monitoring data and the corresponding health action levels.

Reducing exposure to smoke and dust

You can take proactive steps to reduce your exposure to smoke and dust:

• minimise your physical activity outdoors
• when indoors, keep the windows and doors closed
• if you have an air conditioner, turn it on and switch it to ‘recycle’ or ‘recirculate’
• if your home gets too hot for comfort or is letting in a lot of smoke or dust in, try to visit an air-conditioned community library or shopping centre (if it is safe to do so)
• when indoors, avoid other sources of air pollution including smoke from cigarettes and wood stoves
• if there is a break in smoke or dusty conditions, take the opportunity to ventilate your home to improve indoor air quality
• anyone with a lung or heart condition should keep at least seven days’ worth of medication on hand. Those with asthma should follow their personal asthma treatment plan
• individuals who are particularly sensitive to smoke and dusty conditions should consider temporarily moving away from the affected area if possible.
• P2 face masks provides greater protection against inhaling smoke and dust. P2 face masks do not filter out toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides (from bushfire smoke) however can prevent smaller or fine particles. It is important to note that face masks make it hard to breathe normally, require a seal around the face and mouth to work correctly.

Cleaning a smoke and dust affected home

• open the doors and windows, sunlight and fresh air will help remove any odour
• wash hard surfaces (furniture, walls and floors) with mild soap or detergent and water
• wash soft furnishings (upholstered furniture and bedding)
• air soft furnishings outside in the sunshine and wind
• mattresses may be able to be cleaned by a specialist upholstery cleaner however it is almost impossible to get the smell of smoke out of feather pillows or foam
• affected clothing should be washed normally and dried outside. Clothes may need to be re-washed to remove odour, soot, and potential irritants
• low levels of ash on household surfaces are unlikely to harm your health.

Dust and water tanks

To minimise the amount of dust entering your rainwater tank, install a first-flush diverter. First flush diverters get rid of the initial debris when rain starts, and usually discharge into the stormwater system. Learn more about drinking water during and after a disaster.

For further information

• Contact your doctor, hospital or health clinic.
• Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) at any time.
• Contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for your nearest Public Health Unit.

If you or anyone in your household is experiencing any health effects from smoke or dust inhalation, seek medical advice from your doctor.

Download and share the staying safe and healthy in smoky bushfire conditions factsheet (PDF 130 kB).

Download and share the protect yourself from dust and smoke factsheet (PDF 512 kB).