Sydney choked by dust storm as air quality hits ‘extremely poor’
A massive dust storm is pushing air pollution levels to “extremely poor” and prompting urgent health warnings for residents.
A thick cloud of dust and dangerous airborne particles has descended on Greater Sydney, prompting urgent health warnings from authorities advising residents to stay indoors and monitor for symptoms.
Landmarks usually visible from across the city, including the iconic harbour, skyline and the Blue Mountains, were completely obscured on Tuesday morning as the dust storm blanketed the region.
NSW Health issued a warning for residents, particularly those with asthma or respiratory conditions, to avoid outdoor activity, keep windows closed, and use damp cloths to cover their noses and mouths if necessary.
The state government measures air quality using PM10, particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less, and on Tuesday morning, Sydney’s readings spiked dramatically.
“PM10 are particles in air with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less,” NSW Health explains online.
“PM itself is short for ‘particulate matter’, another term for particles. They can include dust or sea salt, as well as smaller particles generated from combustion processes such as vegetation fires, motor vehicles and industrial sources.
“These particles can pass into the lungs.
“Short term impacts include difficulty in breathing and worsening of asthma or chronic bronchitis symptoms. They can also cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat.”
Between 8am and 9am, several areas in Sydney recorded PM10 levels above 600μg/m3, with Prospect reaching a staggering 693.3μg/m3. For comparison, Delhi, frequently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, was sitting at 107µg/m3.
Even more alarming were readings in the Illawarra region, where levels spiked to 903.2μg/m3.
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/sydney-choked-by-dust-storm-as-air-quality-hits-extremely-poor/news-story/99175569b883e445d924a1744a825845