'These air quality readings are only seen in places like India and China'
Air quality readings were literally off the charts in Sydney on Tuesday with readings more than double "hazardous" levels in the east, triple "hazardous" in the north-west and five times above "hazardous" grade in the south-west., which measures air pollutants, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and airborne particles showed the entire Sydney basin exceeding the maximum "hazardous" rating of 200.
Good air is rated between 0 and 33, but at Oakdale in Sydney's south-west ultra-fine particle pollution scored 1080, Richmond hit 740, Rouse Hill registered 781 and Macquarie Park was above 776. Professor of Environmental Science at Macquarie University Mark Taylor said Tuesday's air quality readings were "off the chart"."This was a significant event," Prof Taylor said. "These air quality readings are only seen in places like India and China and they're pushing the limits .
"It's not a local event, it's enormous, exposing 4 to 5 million people , which we know is carcinogenic.Two groups who are not often discussed in the air quality context are firefighters, who are subjected to pollutants in huge concentrations and the animals who suffer ecological impacts and toxic ash in the aftermath, Prof Taylor said.
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