Air quality in Perth

Air quality index (AQI⁺) and PM2.5 air pollution in Perth

Last update at (Local time)

41.2K people follow this city

  • The profile image of follower
  • The profile image of follower
  • The profile image of follower
  • The profile image of follower
  • The profile image of follower
IQAir map with AQI colorful pins

AIR QUALITY DATA CONTRIBUTORS

5 Stations operated by

3 Contributors

https://cdn.airvisual.net/gov/tiny/der-wa-gov-au.pnghttps://ui-avatars.com/api/?rounded=true&size=128&name=kingsley.bugarinhttps://cdn.airvisual.net/tiny/default.png

Join the movement!

image

While 92% of the global population is exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, many places lack measurements to quantify its effects and allow communities to respond effectively.

Get a monitor
Find out more about contributors and data sources

Pollen

What is the pollen count in Perth today?

IndexNone
Tree pollenNone
Grass pollenNone
Weed pollenNone
Source: tomorrow.io
See pollen forecast

Weather

What is the current weather in Perth?

Weather icon
WeatherFew clouds
Temperature69.8°F
Humidity81%
Wind11.5 mph
Pressure29.9 inHg

live AQI⁺ city ranking

Real-time Australia city ranking

#cityUS AQI⁺
1The national flag of International Singleton, New South Wales

63

2The national flag of International Perth, Western Australia

56

3The national flag of International Bunbury, Western Australia

45

4The national flag of International Newcastle, New South Wales

43

5The national flag of International Armidale, New South Wales

34

6The national flag of International Millthorpe, New South Wales

29

7The national flag of International Orange, New South Wales

25

8The national flag of International Gladstone, Queensland

22

9The national flag of International Sydney, New South Wales

22

10The national flag of International Merriwa, New South Wales

20

(Local time)

SEE WORLD AQI⁺ RANKING

live Perth AQI⁺ ranking

Real-time Perth air quality ranking

#stationUS AQI⁺
1 Midland

58

2 Duncraig

56

3 South Lake

56

4 Toulon Circle

51

5 Caversham

33

(Local time)

SEE WORLD AQI⁺ RANKING

#1 Air Quality App

Free iOS and Android air quality app

AirVisual App, Free iOS and Android air quality app

US AQI⁺

56

live AQI⁺ index
Moderate

Human face indicating AQI level

Overview

What is the current air quality in Perth?

Air pollution levelAir quality indexMain pollutant
Moderate 56 US AQI⁺PM2.5
PollutantsConcentration
PM2.5
12µg/m³
PM10
28µg/m³
O₃
44µg/m³
NO₂
0µg/m³
SO₂
2.6µg/m³
CO
0µg/m³
!

PM2.5

x2.4

PM2.5 concentration in Perth is currently 2.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value

Health recommendations

What is the current air quality in Perth?

A man cycling icon
Sensitive groups should reduce outdoor exercise
An open window icon
Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor air
Get a monitor
An IQAir mask icon
Sensitive groups should wear a mask outdoors
Get a mask
An IQAir purifier icon
Sensitive groups should run an air purifier
Get an air purifier

Forecast

Perth air quality index (AQI⁺) forecast

DayPollution levelWeatherTemperatureWind
Monday, Nov 11

Good 21 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
71.6° 55.4°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 209 degree 15.7 mph
Tuesday, Nov 12

Good 18 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
71.6° 55.4°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 228 degree 11.2 mph
Wednesday, Nov 13

Good 33 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
82.4° 59°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 193 degree 15.7 mph
Today

Moderate 56 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
78.8° 64.4°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 222 degree 13.4 mph
Friday, Nov 15

Good 19 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
71.6° 59°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 205 degree 20.1 mph
Saturday, Nov 16

Good 9 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
68° 50°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 205 degree 17.9 mph
Sunday, Nov 17

Good 15 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
77° 51.8°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 131 degree 15.7 mph
Monday, Nov 18

Good 35 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon
86° 60.8°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 89 degree 17.9 mph
Tuesday, Nov 19

Moderate 68 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon 40%
86° 69.8°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 62 degree 17.9 mph
Wednesday, Nov 20

Moderate 66 AQI⁺ US

Human face indicating AQI level
Weather icon 100%
73.4° 66.2°
IQAir AirVisual Air Quality Map Wind rotating 308 degree 13.4 mph

Interested in hourly forecast? Get the app

How to best protect from air pollution?

Reduce your air pollution exposure in Perth

AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS FOR Perth

Is Perth polluted?

The capital city of Western Australia, located on the south-west coast of the state, Perth is Australia’s 4th most populated city, following Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Like much of Australia, Perth experiences generally healthy air quality most of the year round, in comparison to global locations. However, Perth can also experience occasional short-term, extreme air pollution episodes most often caused by wildfires and dust storms. Historically, the main pollutants of concern within Perth have been photochemical oxidants (measured as ozone), and particulate matter pollution. This is because these two pollutants most often exceed the Australian air quality standards, known as the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (Air NEPM). Ozone is a gaseous secondary pollutant, meaning that it is not produced directly from any one source, but rather it is formed through chemical reactions between other airborne pollutants known as ‘precursors’, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in the presence of sunlight. Accordingly, high Perth ozone levels are most likely to occur during hot and sunny conditions. Perth’s ozone levels are most often highest during the summer months, while haze from particulate matter is most commonly high during the colder winter months, particularly when domestic wood heaters are being used with higher demand.1

Live air quality information can be viewed in the Perth air quality map at the top of this page, which also contains real-time wildfires updates. These, along with a 7-day Perth air quality forecast are available to follow on-the-go using the IQAir AirVisual air pollution app.

What are the health effects of air pollution in Perth?

Exposure to high levels of ozone can cause short term irritation of the airways, and minor lung function changes; elevated ozone concentrations have also been associated with increased hospital admissions, and premature mortality.2 Exposure to particulate matter, which describes miniscule airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 or 10 microns in diameter (abbreviated as PM2.5 and PM10 respectively), are particularly hazardous to human health due to their microscopic size enabling them to penetrate deep into the human system when inhaled. PM can travel into the lungs, and tiny PM2.5 can go further into the bloodstream, causing a range of health effects. Exposure to PM pollution can cause short-term effects, including irritation of eyes, nose and throat, and aggravation of existing conditions such as asthma; while long-term effects can increase a risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) like emphysema and bronchitis, lung cancer, and increased risk of premature mortality.

What are the main sources of Perth air pollution?

The two main causes of air pollution in Perth are vehicle emissions and smoke, which may come from activities including bushfires and domestic wood heaters.2 These pollution sources are anticipated to intensify over time, along with predicted population growth in Perth increasing the demand for both heating and vehicular transport. In addition, as global temperatures increase as part of climate change, the conditions will become increasingly favourable to severe wildfires, increasing the risk of severe particulate smoke pollution.

Is Perth threatened by fire?

Like the rest of Australia’s air quality, Perth and Western Australia are vulnerable to experiencing wildfires on an annual basis. The time at which various parts of Australia are most vulnerable to fires varies with seasonal weather patterns; in general, northern Australia is at highest risk of fires during the dry season, usually through winter and spring, while southern Australia, the season for bushfires peaks during summer and autumn. Given Perth’s southwestern location, is at highest risk during the spring and summer months.3

Australia experienced particularly severe wildfires across the country during the summer of 2019-2020, following several months of drought, low rainfall and record breaking temperatures. Perth was not spared, and experienced an out-of-control bushfire in mid-December 2019 north of Perth. The fire burned through over 11,000 hectares of land, leading to evacuations of the area.4 Despite the highly destructive nature of bushfires to both people and natural and built landscapes, experts estimate that the health impacts from smoke exposure resulting from fires had a much larger impact on human wellbeing than the fires themselves. A study in the Medical Journal of Australia estimated that while 33 people were reported as tragically killed by the Black Summer’s bushfires, a further 417 premature deaths may have been caused by the smoke, along with 3,151 additional hospitalisations for cardiorespiratory problems, and 1,305 additional attendances for asthma attacks.5

What is Perth doing about air pollution?

Western Australia’s air quality is managed by the state government’s Department for Environmental Regulation. In 2000, Perth’s Department of Environmental Protection published its Perth Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), which was intended to govern Perth’s air quality over the subsequent 30 years.6 Following the Plan’s publication, the Western Australian Government and Air Quality Coordinating Committee have published regular scorecards on the city’s progress regarding the AQMP. Initiatives being carried out as part of the Plan’s execution, include the “Burnwise” campaign, which promotes awareness and information about the efficient use of domestic wood heaters, to minimise smoke emissions; promoting sustainable transport over private vehicles, such as cycling and walking through various events and campaigns; and supporting research programs into the effects of air pollution on health.7

The Western Australia government also runs a network of 15 air quality sensors state-wide, 9 of which are installed within the Greater Perth Region. These 9 air monitoring stations include those in Perth’s suburbs of Caversham, Duncraig, Quinns Rocks, South Lake, Swanbourne and Wattleup, as well as the southern city of Mandurah, city of Rockingham, and the more inland station Rolling Green.8 The WA Government monitors air quality within its state, to check progress against Australia’s national air quality standards, known as the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (Air NEPM). The NEPM standards provide short term (such as 24-hour) and annual target levels that various air pollutants should not exceed, to minimise Australians’ health risks from pollution exposure.

The WA Government then reports these measurements to the public using a Perth Air Quality Index, which follows the wider Australian air quality index guidelines. The Perth AQI expresses pollutant levels as a percentage of their respective standard: for example, an AQI of 100 represents the maximum allowable level of that pollutant under its NEPM standard, and 200 AQI would represent an exceedance twofold. Where multiple pollutants are measured at a single location, the pollutant with the highest AQI will dictate that location’s overall AQI indicator. The Perth AQI scale is color-coded, to further help quickly communicate air quality’s health hazard at a glance. 0-33 represents “Very Good” air quality (blue), while 200+ represents “Extreme” air pollution.9


+ Article resources

[1] Department of Environment, Perth. “Research on Health and Air Pollution in Perth”. Department of Environment Regulation website, May, 2003.
[2] Western Australia Government Department for Environmental Regulation. “Perth Air Quality Management Plan”. WA Government DER website, December, 2000.
[3] Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. “Bushfire weather”. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology website, n.d.
[4] Helen Davidson. “Western Australia bushfire out of control as temperatures expected to surge above 40C”. The Guardian, December 14, 2019.
[5] John Pickrell. “Smoke from Australia’s bushfires killed far more people than the fires did, study says”. The Guardian, March 20, 2020.
[6] Western Australia’s Department of Environmental Protection. “Perth Air Quality Management Plan”. Western Australia Government website, December, 2000.
[7] Government of Western Australia & Air Quality Coordinating Committee. “Perth air quality management plan report card (2012-13)”. WA Government website, 2014.
[8] Government of Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. “2019 Western Australian air monitoring report”. WA Government Department of Environmental Regulation website, October 2020.
[9] Government of Western Australia. “Air quality index”. Government of Western Australia website, n.d.

Perth air quality data attribution

3Contributors

Data validated and calibrated by IQAirData validated and calibrated by IQAir

Where is the cleanest air quality in Perth?

Cart
Your cart is empty

Connect With IQAir

Sign up for our newsletter