Air quality in Brooklyn generally remained good last month despite consistent northerly winds and very dry conditions in the outer western suburbs.
Air quality scientist Andrew Marshall said ten out of 15 weekdays over the past three weeks fitted the criteria for weather conditions that most commonly cause air quality standards to be exceeded in Brooklyn.
“Despite EPAs concerns only one day exceeded air quality objectives in Brooklyn during the past three weeks,” Mr Marshall said
“EPA issued a poor air quality warning for May 13 to 16 and alerted local industries and residents to the expected poor quality conditions so they could plan ahead.
“EPA also requested help from Brimbank and Maribyrnong councils to reduce the expected impact on residents by cleaning specific roads.”
Road cleaning performed by local councils is believed to have particularly reduced dust levels on May 15 when the wind was a very strong northerly yet not even an hour of poor air quality was measured.
“Local councils help minimise dust pollution by watering or sweeping dust and debris from roads ahead of dry and windy weather conditions,” Mr Marshall said.
“On days like these road traffic can often raise dust into the air which is then moved by the wind from industrial areas to residential areas.
“The EPA is committed to working with local councils to help reduce any risk to air quality and ensuring sites that are the ultimate source of dust implement controls.”
EPA has required a number of industries to implement measures to reduce the impact of dust on surrounding residential areas.