Air quality in Darwin six times worse than Sydney

The air quality in Darwin this morning is worse than in every other capital city in Australia, confirms official figures

Thick smoke blankets Sydney Harbour earlier this year. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

THE air quality in Darwin this morning is worse than in every other capital city in Australia, confirms official figures.

According to the AirRater app the PM2.5 — or amount of small particles in the air — in Darwin shortly after 9.10am was 36.

In Sydney it was PM36, and in Melbourne it was just PM2 at the time.

One rural Darwin resident, who asked not to be named, blamed the poor weather on the burning.

“There been fire burning since the beginning of June,” he said.

“I now have asthma every night I go to bed I have to wear a mask.

“Two months of burning just seems inefficient.”

Yesterday, NT health experts urged people in the Greater Darwin area with hay fever, asthma or other respiratory conditions to stay inside over the next few days with their windows and doors shut.

NT Health Department acting director of environmental health Tracy Ward said the air quality in the area was “poor” at the moment and likely to remain poor over the next few days.

Ms Ward said the PM2.5 could present a danger to people with breathing conditions if they were inhaled.

“When your lungs become irritated it can constrict your airways,” she said.

“If you are vulnerable you are asked to stay inside where possible.”

Ms Ward said there had not been an increase in the number of people presenting to Royal Darwin Hospital with breathing concerns.

“That doesn’t mean people aren’t accessing their GP or other services,” she said.

“It’s a concern — but it’s a ‘be alert, but not alarmed’ issue.”

Ms Ward said vulnerable Territorians should follow their asthma action plan or seek medication.

She said the smoke and dust did not present a threat to Territorians without a breathing issue but added anyone who had begun to develop respiratory issues should see their doctor.

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Darwin River resident Zoe Fisher said the smoke and dust in her area was “terrible”.

“It is just disgusting — everything smells,” she said.

“I’ve developed a cough over the last few days and my partner sleeps with a mask.”

Ms Fisher said her partner was diagnosed with asthma for the first time in 40 years despite no prior medical history of respiratory illnesses.

“He’s got this wheeze and is unable to run,” she said.

“I know there are people in the community that are having to stay in (Darwin) city the smoke is so bad.

“It’s quite an ageing population out here, and there’s obviously quite a lot of children.”

Ms Fisher said thick smoke and poor air quality was impacting her quality of life.

NT Health is now asking Territorians to download the ‘AirRater’ app to check on the air quality in their area.

A spokeswoman said when the air quality dropped to ‘poor’ or below, vulnerable people should avoid outdoor physical activity; stay indoors with windows and doors closed where possible; and set their airconditioner to recirculate.

To download the free AirRater app, visit — https://airrater.org.