Does dirty air have a physical or emotional impact on our bodies?

Thanks for your question. Yes, air pollution (also called poor air quality) can make you sick, both physically and emotionally.

Air pollution is made up of very small particles. You can’t see each particle, but together they make a haze. You can sometimes smell air pollution, especially if it comes from bushfire smoke.

When you breathe these particles in, they can affect many systems in your body, especially your lungs and your heart. For example, if you have asthma, you might find poor air quality will make you feel wheezy or trigger an asthma attack. So it’s important to have your asthma medication with you on a smoky day.

When there is a lot of smoke in the air, some people can feel very nervous and anxious. If they have experienced a bushfire before, smelling or seeing smoke can trigger emotions or memories related to the previous fire.

Air pollution can come from burning wood (such as in a wood heater or a bushfire), burning coal or from petrol or diesel cars. Reducing these sources will help us all breathe easier.