Dust

Learn about the impact of dust pollution, what the law says about dust and what you can do to manage it.

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Dust is a common air pollutant that reduces air quality. It's mostly soil particles in the air from:

  • construction sites
  • construction and demolition waste processing
  • earthworks
  • mining
  • unsealed roads.

When dust is not managed properly, it can harm human health and the environment. It can impact:

  • people nearby
  • homes
  • aged-care facilities
  • parks and outdoor recreation sites
  • waterways.

Dust causes widespread harm to the environment, including:

  • damage to plants and ecosystems
  • poor water quality
  • death of aquatic animals and plants from sedimentation.

Dust also reduces visibility on worksites and in nearby areas, leading to other hazards.

Dust and the law

The general environmental duty applies to activities that create dust.

You must control dust from your activities to:

Failure to control dust can result in:

  • clean-up costs
  • lost work time
  • legal fees
  • fines and criminal charges.

In some cases, you must get our permission to conduct a business or industry activity. Our permissions focus on activities that may have a significant impact on human health and the environment. Permissions have conditions that must be followed. These may include a dust management plan for your activities.

Our role in dust

We provide guidance to help businesses and industry understand how to manage dust and comply with the law – for example, advice on how to control dust from your business.

Guidance for assessing nuisance dust is our framework to assess the risk of harm caused by dust. This guide is intended for:

  • government
  • the planning sector
  • air quality professionals.

It also assists decision-makers, planners, environmental managers and industry. They can use it to inform their decisions and minimise the potential for hazards or harm.

Assess and minimise air pollution from your business provides guidance to help you assess risk and monitor air pollutants, including PM10 and PM2.5 particles found in dust.

We monitor air quality around Victoria. We have air monitoring equipment that measures airborne particles, including PM10 and PM2.5 particles. The data we collect supports our daily air quality forecasts.

Learn more about how we monitor the quality of the environment.

Impact of dust on your health

Dust particles can be different sizes. Large particles, called coarse dust, generally cannot enter the lungs. Most airborne dust is coarse and does not pose a serious risk to human health if breathed in.

Small particles in airborne dust are easier to breathe in and more likely to reach your lungs. This includes PM10 and PM2.5 particles.

Some people are more at risk of health issues from breathing in dust. This includes:

  • infants and young children
  • older people
  • people with lung conditions, such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis
  • people with heart disease.

People impacted by dust may experience:

  • asthma attacks
  • serious breathing problems
  • allergic reactions.

Long-term exposure to dust has a serious impact on your health. It increases your risk of heart or lung disease.

If you have asthma or another respiratory (breathing-related) condition, follow your treatment plan if these symptoms occur:

  • shortness of breath
  • coughing
  • wheezing
  • chest pain.

If you're unwell or concerned about your health because of exposure to airborne dust, find who to contact.

How to stay safe from dust

Do not go outside when the air around you is polluted by dust. Stay indoors with windows and doors closed. Avoid high-impact exercise, especially if you have asthma or another breathing-related condition.

If you're driving, make sure your car's air conditioning and heating system is in 'recirculate' mode. This means air does not come in from outside. Pull over if you cannot see more than 100 metres in front of you.

To minimise your exposure to everyday dust, use air conditioners when you can, and clean the filters often.

Dust can pollute water in tanks. If you have a water tank, install a first flush diverter to keep rainwater clean.

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