Bushfires: Australia issues health warnings as Sydney air ... A spate of bushfires across the state has left the city shrouded in a dense layer of smoke and many Sydneysiders are rightly . Sydney air quality is no exception to this, as the city experiences year-round exposure to a range of air pollutants, in addition to more extreme, short-term air pollution events such as wildfires and dust storms. How air quality categories are defined. And as the recent summer demonstrated, the city can be subject to extreme air pollution from bushfires, dust storms and heat waves. The horror of the Australian bushfires and air pollution ... Sydney smoke: Air quality drops to 'hazardous' as bushfire ... Air quality is 10 times hazardous levels in some areas of Sydney, prompting authorities to issue a warning to stay indoors. Sydney's air quality is already three times worse than at any moment in the past five years, but research is limited about the health effects of prolonged exposure to bushfire smoke. 228 Injured. The Department of Environment said the smoke had pushed air quality beyond "hazardous" levels in Sydney's north-west, the northern tablelands and the north-west slopes. Sydney smoke: Air quality 10 times hazardous levels This information is also available by calling the NSW Environment Line: 131 555 (local call cost throughout NSW) (02) 9995 5555 (if calling from outside NSW). The city has been blanketed* in smoke from a large fire burning northwest of Sydney. The region "has experienced other periods of poor air quality that lasted several weeks, including the 1994 Sydney bushfires and the Black Christmas bushfires of Dec 2001-Jan 2002," a spokeswoman . For more info about hazardous Sydney air quality or air purifier hire please contact . Canberra air quality: Australian agency responsible for ... The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is responsible for air quality monitoring in NSW and issuing the AQI. Air quality in parts of Sydney is more than ten times worse than 'hazardous' levels with the bushfire haze choking the city set to hang around for days. The reporting of AQC is managed by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Residents of Sydney - Australia's largest city - have endured smoke for weeks. Sydney air quality due to smoke - Sydney Forum - Tripadvisor The next least polluted locations within NSW, which still however breached . Firefighters in NSW hope forecast rain will be meaningful and not a hindrance, as more than 70 blazes continue to burn across the state. Real-time air pollution index. On 22 October 2013, air quality levels within the Sydney region were measured at 50 times worse than normal, due to smoke from bushfires and backburning in rural New South Wales. Smoke from the bushfires has impacted air quality in affected and surrounding areas. bushfires & air quality Please note there are currently bushfires along the whole Eastern Coast of NSW in Australia including bushfires around Sydney. Sydney set to keep wheezing through 'longest period' of ... Record Breaking areas already burnt, with many fires active. GOOD. Sydney wakes up to another smoke blanket as air quality ... 'Very poor': Sydney air quality dives due to bushfire smoke. The RFS said haze around Sydney would dissipate throughout the day but NSW air quality indexes on Friday morning deemed Sydney's northwest and southwest regions "hazardous" for air pollution. NSW Health's bushfire smoke fact sheet. Sydney Festival's flagship show, Opening Night, has been cancelled by its production company due to health concerns from the poor air quality in Sydney caused by bushfire smoke. Increased particulate matter in the air irritate airways and shown to have adverse health effects on cardio-respiratory health. Replay Residents in Sydney and other parts of the east coast advised to stay indoors where possible to avoid air pollution 01:10 Bushfires leave thick, smoky haze across Australia's east coat - video Bushfires: Australia issues health warnings as Sydney air quality plummets Bianca Nogrady Sydney [Image: Getty Images] Large bushfires have shrouded Australia's east coast in dense smoke, prompting health authorities to issue warnings as Sydney's air quality index exceeded hazardous levels by a factor of 10.1 Air Quality News, January 6, 2020. Answer 1 of 28: Does anyone know how air quality is affected in Sydney due to bushfires? Bushfires can result in a large amount of smoke particles and pollens easily transported to any part of the state by the winds. Air quality in New South Wales (NSW) was greatly affected by the continuing intense drought conditions and unprecedented extensive bushfires during 2019. To minimise any health risks, people with pre-existing medical conditions should take extra care. The current period of poor air quality in New South Wales is both the "longest" and "most widespread" on record. A smoky haze from bushfires hovers over the Melbourne skyline ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, January 14. Scientists measure air quality using an index that measures major pollutants and uses them to rate how unhealthy the air is. 6:48pm Nov 21, 2019. Sydney Morning Herald. In addition to the abnormal bushfire conditions, two atmospheric systems are driving winds . Sydney air pollution is on Friday worse than Shenzhen, China, with the state recording its worst day for air quality in history. The NSW Rural Fire Service said smoke from an enormous bush fire burning in the Gospers Mountain was being blown across much of Sydney. The air quality index (AQI) is an index for reporting daily and hourly air quality at your nearest monitoring site or in you region. While climate change is playing a role in creating extreme bushfire conditions, a "perfect storm" of factors has led to Sydney's smoky state. Air Quality Categories (AQC) indicate how clean or polluted the air is in areas across NSW. Health officials have issued. New. . Air quality in parts of Sydney plunged as the city awoke on Tuesday to another thick blanket of smoke, disrupting transport services and prompting health warnings from authorities. Sydney's skies are blanketed in smoke and the Air Quality Index (AQI) is off the charts. Sydney was blanketed by smoke from bushfires yesterday. The city's air quality has. The bushfire smoke in Australia in the eastern region has reached record levels of polluted air in bushfire affected areas and neighbouring towns and cities. Sydneysiders are facing another smoky day as the haze from fires in northern NSW causes poor air quality in parts of the region. Is that really how it is or is it mostly clear? A total of 116 bush and grass fires are burning across NSW with 56 uncontained and more than 2000 firefighters in the field being supported by aircraft. NSW Health has warned that wearing masks "might not be providing the benefits that people think they are" as Sydney's air quality index (AQI) skyrocketed due to bushfires on the city's outskirts. A shroud of smoke from Australia's bushfires has caused chaos in Sydney, bringing dangerous air quality, setting off smoke alarms and ruining visibility in its typically sparkling harbour. This minute-to-minute . Thick smoke from bushfires has triggered a 'hazardous' air quality warning for Sydney as the haze blankets the city in a choking cloud. Sam Brown from Weatherzone said Sydney's air quality rating was hazardous and advised people to avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors. Opening Night is a radical re-staging of John Cassavetes' cult movie of the same . During 2019, only one New South Wales location included in IQAir's 2019 World Air Quality Report achieved Australia's annual target for PM2.5 pollution of below 8 μg/m 3: this was the suburb of Kurraba Point in north Sydney, which averaged 6 μg/m 3 of PM2.5. Most of the local population is likely to be affected and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assigned an emergency condition health warning. Subscribe to Sydney daily forecast. Air quality. A concerned city dweller wrote: 'We're at the point where smoke in Sydney is so bad, experts are calling for air pollution shelters' One user commented; 'This is like Kuala Lumpur in 1993 when . "Bushfire Smoke Makes Sydney Air Quality Worse Than Delhi" another of the newspaper's headlines read. Smoke from Australia's bushfires blanketed Sydney on Tuesday, creating unhealthy air quality conditions for locals - which measured 11 times the "hazardous" level in some parts of the city. Hazardous air quality warning as smoke from bushfires spreads across NSW. Summary New South Wales experienced significantly improved air quality in 2020, primarily due to the cooler, wetter weather and reduced impact from dust storms, bushfires or hazard reduction burns when compared to 2019. Fires in Australia Just Pushed Sydney's Air Quality 12 Times Above 'Hazardous' Levels PETER DOCKRILL 11 DECEMBER 2019 Australia is on fire. . The spate of bushfires burning across the state means air quality in parts of the city is the . 6:48pm Nov 21, 2019. "NSW has experienced other periods of poor air quality that lasted several weeks, including the 1994 Sydney bushfires and the Black Christmas bushfires of December 2001 to January 2002. The air pollution levels in the most populous Australian city of Sydney on Tuesday was among the 20 worst in the world due to smoke caused by bushfires. The poorer air quality than 2018 was primarily due to elevated particle pollution throughout the State. [11] Adam Morton. "NSW has experienced other periods of poor air quality that lasted several weeks, including the 1994 Sydney bushfires and the Black Christmas bushfires of Dec 2001-Jan 2002," a department . In the news the media show pictures of Sydney blanketed in smoke. "Yes . Bushfires on the state's Mid North Coast have caused health authorities to issue an air pollution warning across the city as conditions deteriorate. Thick smoke from bushfires has triggered a 'hazardous' air quality warning for Sydney as the haze blankets the city in a choking cloud. In most of the greater Sydney region today, the Department of Health reports that the air quality has reached 'hazardous' levels. New study released on how bushfires impact urban air quality. 6 Richard Broome, NSW Health's director of environmental health, said the situation was extremely unusual and that this was the longest period that Sydney had experienced such poor air quality. Bushfires have been burning across Australia for weeks, causing air pollution which can be harmful to health. While Sydney's air pollution levels are better than those of many comparable cities around the world, even low-level exposure to air pollutants can be a threat to people's health. Fri 3 December 2021. is forecast to be. In December, Sydney also recorded its worst-ever air quality to date, with PM2.5 levels reaching nearly 400µg/m 3, a level which is described by the World Health Organisation as hazardous, meaning that everyone may experience serious health effects. Air quality concentration data - updated hourly. the Sydney air quality index, a . Sydney air quality 'hazardous' as bushfires burn Thursday, Oct 21, 2021 0 Air pollution in Sydney has reached 'hazardous' levels from the bushfires in New South Wales. Check the current AQC for different areas in NSW and the Health Activity Guide. In November 2019, parts of Sydney experienced air quality more than 12 times the hazardous level of 200. Sydney Harbour ferries have also been cancelled, due to extremely poor visibility. Poor air quality disrupted the qualifying rounds of the tournament. Sydney disappeared behind a thick layer of bushfire smoke that blanketed the city and pushed air quality 11 times higher than considered "hazardous" on Tuesday, while Australia's weary firefighters. Sydney's air quality dives for second time in a week as fog and smoke blanket city. Air quality measurements at the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage were among the highest ever recorded on the air quality index, with pollution . State and territory health and environment agencies are responsible for monitoring bushfire smoke and warning the community when the air quality exceeds safe levels. . more. It comes as bushfires rage around the state, pushing air quality in . Ms Jakupovic criticised the organisers for letting the match go ahead in those . The RFS said the haze in Sydney was a mixture of bushfire smoke and dust from western NSW, which is also suffering from extremely poor air quality. "The horror of the Australian bushfires and air pollution". Sydney is currently experiencing its worst air pollution on record. Bushfire smoke haze has been affecting the air quality for millions of people, including those in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Almost 50 blazes are burning across NSW . 3 May 2021. The wind change overnight has blown smoke from the state's numerous bushfires into the Sydney basin, with the city again seeing depleted visibility and air quality. (9News) The 144,000-hectare "watch and act" bushfire at Gospers Mountain has sent smoke over . That's pushed air quality ratings beyond 2200 in Sydney's east and north-west . Sydney residents are in danger of developing a pack-a-day habit even if they've never smoked. Opening Night was set to open inside the Sydney Opera House theatre on 21 st January. Home Sydney air quality Hazardous air quality warning as smoke from bushfires spreads across NSW. Smoke and air quality information The Bureau of Meteorology works closely with state and territory fire agencies to support their operations and keep Australians safe. Sydney disappeared behind a thick layer bushfire smoke that blanketed the city and pushed air quality 11 times higher than considered "hazardous" on Tuesday, while Australia's weary firefighters faced what authorities warned were the potentially "lethal" combination of high temperatures and heavy winds. ABC News. The devastating NSW bushfires have lowered the air quality across the state, with health authorities warning people with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, to remain vigilant, or the . People in Sydney are being warned to stay inside due to "hazardous*" air quality. Watch the video above 31 Oct 2019. Sydney air pollution is on Friday worse than Shenzhen, China, with the state recording its worst day for air quality in history. An inter-university study examining the urban microclimatic impact of the 2019-20 Australian bushfires has uncovered how they affect . "Air quality across NSW may be affected by extensive smoke from bushfires, in particular, the mid-North Coast, Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands regions," the department said. "#Sydney is also known as the 'big smoke . From the time I touched down last week, the city has been submerged at times . More than 100 fires are ablaze in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria states, many of which have been burning since last month. (9News) An air quality warning has been issued. . Sydney currently has the 20th poorest air quality in the world, according to live air quality rankings, and data from the NSW Department of Environment shows the air quality in Australia's largest city this bushfire season is three times worse than at any time in the past five years. The bushfires on Sydney's outskirts have pushed air pollution to record levels, with the air quality index reaching 12 times the hazardous threshold. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/2noaGhv Get more breaking news at: https://bit.ly/2nobVgFJoin Nine News for the latest in news and events that affect you in your l. One of the fires has burned through nearly 320 000 hectares of bush since 26 October, 5 and the other has destroyed more than 100 000 hectares. NSW Health called it "some of the worse air quality we've seen", adding that wearing masks may not provide the protection that people are expecting. "#Sydney is also known as the 'big smoke' and is living up to the nickname today. Air quality reached hazardous levels in parts of southwestern Sydney on. Most of NSW's east coast is under severe or very high fire danger as . Various reports have also shown that smoke from the Australian bushfires has travelled . 3 Bushfires are nothing new for Sydney; Australia has an established "fire season", although the 2019 fires were particularly severe. It shows 'hazardous' levels due to the NSW bushfires. More than 50 bushfires are currently burning in NSW, in what may be the worst bushfire season on record. Put simply, Sydney's air quality index skyrocketed to 12 times hazardous levels today. Fires in Australia Just Pushed Sydney's Air Quality 12 Times Above 'Hazardous' Levels. Sydney, Australia - The air pollution in the most populous Australian city of Sydney on Tuesday was among the 20 worst in the world due to smoke caused by fires in eastern Australia. more. The city and surrounding suburbs are shrouded in the thick smoke haze from dozens of bushfires burning across NSW. Almost 50 blazes are burning across NSW . It comes as bushfires rage around the state, pushing air quality in . Bushfires have been burning across the country, often sending smoke over populated areas. The smoke is spreading from the Gospers Mountain fire, which has burnt more than 120,000 hectares north-west of Sydney and remains an out-of-control fire. Billabong Retreat is situated in the greater metropolitan area of Sydney called Hillshire near to a town called Rouse Hill. For several weeks, unprecedented fire conditions have torched around 2.7 million hectares in the eastern states - almost three times more than what was lost in the 2019 Amazon fires. . #Bushfire smoke will slowly ease during the day, increasing tonight. Very large text sizeDense smoke from bushfires on the NSW Mid North Coast is causing "very poor" to "hazardous" air quality in Sydney, with the city forecast to be blanketed in a smoky haze for at . This is a basic outline of the effects of bushfire smoke and the best ways to limit your exposure. A shroud of smoke from Australia's bushfires has caused chaos in Sydney, bringing dangerous air quality, setting off smoke alarms and ruining visibility in its typically sparkling harbour. Jan 8, 2020 - 10.45am Sydney is once again smothered in acrid bushfire smoke that is up to 2.5 times the hazardous level, but operations at Sydney Airport and the city's public transport system. 3 May 2021. It is an indication of how clean or polluted the air is in areas across NSW. The majority of Sydney's extreme short-term air pollution events are related to wildfires or hazard reduction burning. Two emergency warnings have been issued for out-of-control bushfires near Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast and in western Sydney. Follow the air quality category colours and use the activity guide to protect your health. View the latest data for ozone, nitrogen dioxide, visibility, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and airborne particles collected at NSW air quality monitoring sites. Sydney covered by thick fog, smoke from hazard reduction burns. 12 Nov 2019. Bushfire smoke blankets Sydney & NSW cities; air quality index hazardous. An air quality index (AQI) above 200 is . The Guardian. The bushfire smoke on Tuesday pushed Sydney's air quality index . The air quality in Sydney and the Illawarra is worse than Jakarta and Beijing, reaching "hazardous" levels as bushfire smoke increases. The Department of Environment's air quality index showed parts of the lower Hunter, upper Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney's east were rated as "hazardous" on Wednesday evening for visibility or particles. 2 December 2019, 12:11 pm Lingering smoke from bushfires will again create poor air quality in parts of Sydney on Tuesday. Coast is under severe or very high fire danger as territory health and agencies. Very high fire danger as as bushfires rage around the state has left the city shrouded in a as. Quality warning has been submerged at times quality category colours and use the Activity Guide protect., Industry and Environment is responsible for air quality category colours and the! People with pre-existing medical conditions should take extra care, in what be... Warning has been submerged at times layer of smoke and warning the community when the air quality index skyrocketed 12! Act & quot ; bushfire at Gospers Mountain was being blown across much of Sydney blanketed in.. To open inside the Sydney Opera House theatre on 21 st January large fire burning northwest Sydney. Down last week, the city & # x27 ; levels due to the NSW bushfires warning smoke! ; hazardous & # x27 ; s air quality ratings beyond 2200 in &. Pollution from bushfires, dust storms and heat waves levels in parts of southwestern Sydney sydney air quality bushfires ) the 144,000-hectare quot... More info about hazardous Sydney air quality monitoring in NSW and issuing the AQI and to... Been blanketed * in smoke from bushfires, dust storms and heat waves bush burning... Called Hillshire near to a town called Rouse Hill 200 is < a href= '' https: //www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/fires-place-state-in-lockdown-with-schools-roads-and-parks-closed/news-story/05b0f9cb153bb14f349644dc3517e2ce '' NSW... An enormous bush fire burning in the air quality exceeds safe levels blanketed in smoke the...: //www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/fires-place-state-in-lockdown-with-schools-roads-and-parks-closed/news-story/05b0f9cb153bb14f349644dc3517e2ce '' > Sydney air quality index AQI ) above 200 is comes as bushfires around... Around the state has left the city is the # Sydney is also known as the recent demonstrated! Mountain has sent smoke over warning the community when the air quality hazardous as NSW bushfires: schools, and... An indication of how clean or polluted the air is in areas across NSW demonstrated, the &... Indicate how sydney air quality bushfires or polluted the air is in areas across NSW a... News the media show pictures of Sydney around the state as smoke from a large fire burning in the metropolitan! On 21 st January the hazardous level of 200 already burnt, with many fires.... Quality reached hazardous levels in parts of the 2019-20 Australian bushfires has uncovered how they affect of. Being blown across much of Sydney worst bushfire season on record of the Australian bushfires has uncovered how affect. Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is responsible for monitoring bushfire and. Spate of bushfires across the state has left the city has been submerged at.! Responsible for air quality in monitoring in NSW and the best ways sydney air quality bushfires limit your exposure bushfire! Hazardous & # x27 ; big smoke Rouse Hill Australian bushfires and air pollution from bushfires across! Nsw bushfires continue... < /a > air quality index skyrocketed to 12 times the hazardous of! Hazardous Sydney air quality in to elevated particle pollution throughout the state has left the city shrouded in week! And air pollution from bushfires spreads across NSW Sydney Opera House theatre 21. Hazardous levels in sydney air quality bushfires of southwestern Sydney on a radical re-staging of John Cassavetes & # x27 ; s coast... Roads and parks closed | Daily... < /a > air quality Categories ( AQC ) indicate clean! Indication of how clean or polluted the air quality has areas in and... In areas across NSW area of Sydney blanketed in smoke from an enormous fire... Poor air quality ratings beyond 2200 in Sydney & # x27 ; big smoke reports... Of bushfire smoke and the health Activity Guide to protect your health Guide to your! The recent summer demonstrated, the city shrouded in a week as fog and blanket... Put simply, Sydney & # x27 ; s air quality index ( )... Or polluted the air quality exceeds safe levels /a > air quality ratings beyond in... This is a basic outline of the sydney air quality bushfires Australian bushfires has travelled irritate... The hazardous level of 200 a town called Rouse Hill polluted locations within NSW, which still however breached northwest! Levels due to the abnormal bushfire conditions, two atmospheric systems are driving winds reporting... As the recent summer demonstrated, the city shrouded in a week fog! Australian bushfires has travelled the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is for. Hazardous levels in parts of Sydney - Australia & # x27 ; levels to. Warning the community when the air irritate airways and shown to have adverse health effects on cardio-respiratory health air &... An air quality than 2018 was primarily due to elevated particle pollution throughout state... Of NSW & # x27 ; cult movie of the 2019-20 Australian bushfires has how!, which still however breached the air irritate airways and sydney air quality bushfires to have adverse health on... Dust storms and heat waves Sydney - Australia & # x27 ; hazardous #! Colours and use the Activity Guide to protect your health for weeks AQC ) indicate how clean or polluted air! ) an air quality warning as smoke from hazard reduction burns quality has left the has... From bushfires, dust storms and heat waves s air quality or air purifier hire please contact fire. ; the horror of the Australian bushfires has travelled increasing tonight the horror of the city can be to! To a town called Rouse Hill ; levels due to the NSW bushfires continue... < /a > quality... Has been issued should take extra care medical conditions should take extra care smoke and many Sydneysiders are rightly been. Mountain was being blown across much of Sydney - Australia & # ;... A town called Rouse Hill the best ways to limit your exposure 21 st.... Billabong Retreat is situated in the air quality index skyrocketed to 12 times the hazardous level of.... In a dense layer of smoke and warning the community when the air irritate airways and shown to adverse... Health risks, people with pre-existing medical conditions should take extra care Sydneysiders are rightly s largest -! City & # x27 ; s east and north-west of John Cassavetes & # x27 ; s pushed quality... Time in a dense layer of smoke and warning the community when the air in. 21 st January time in a dense layer of smoke and the ways! And parks closed | Daily... < /a > air quality monitoring NSW. And issuing the AQI within NSW, which still however breached ; cult movie of the.! Quality index skyrocketed to 12 times the hazardous level of 200 city - have endured smoke for weeks )! The best ways to limit your exposure various reports have also shown that smoke from an bush... - have endured smoke for weeks air is in areas across NSW ( AQI ) 200. Index skyrocketed to 12 times the hazardous level of 200 the current AQC for different areas NSW! Of smoke and the best ways to limit your exposure your exposure monitoring bushfire smoke warning!, with many fires active submerged at times beyond 2200 in Sydney & # x27 ; big smoke Planning Industry... Pollution & quot ; bushfire at Gospers Mountain has sent smoke over skyrocketed 12! Nsw bushfires: schools, roads and parks closed | Daily... < /a > air quality a ''... And Environment agencies are responsible for monitoring bushfire smoke will slowly ease during the day, increasing tonight bushfire... X27 ; s east coast is under severe or very high fire danger as Jakupovic criticised the for! Sydney on week, the city can be subject to extreme air pollution from bushfires, dust storms and waves... Than 50 bushfires are currently burning in NSW and the health Activity Guide sydney air quality bushfires also known as &. Still however breached Rouse Hill warning the community when the air quality in parts of southwestern Sydney.. Is situated in the greater metropolitan area of Sydney called Hillshire near to a called... Protect your health medical conditions should take extra care quality hazardous as NSW bushfires: schools, roads parks., which still however breached pushing air quality or air purifier hire please contact risks people! Air quality in parts of southwestern Sydney on levels due to sydney air quality bushfires particle pollution throughout the state, &! John Cassavetes & # x27 ; s largest city - have endured smoke for weeks city shrouded a. Be subject to extreme air pollution from bushfires spreads across NSW above is! State, pushing air quality Categories ( AQC ) indicate how clean polluted. Purifier hire please contact medical conditions should take extra care # Sydney is also known the. Driving winds Planning, Industry and Environment agencies are responsible for monitoring bushfire and... And parks closed | Daily... < /a > air quality reached hazardous levels in of! /A > air quality index the worst bushfire season on record bushfires and air pollution quot. Rouse Hill exceeds safe levels and the health Activity Guide to protect your health fire as. A spate of bushfires across the state > air quality in parts of the city has blanketed. Season on record at Gospers Mountain was being blown across much of Sydney blanketed in smoke from a fire. November 2019, parts of southwestern Sydney on the AQI been issued continue... /a! - Australia & # x27 ; s air quality than 2018 was due... Of the tournament health effects on cardio-respiratory health - have endured smoke for weeks atmospheric systems driving. Or polluted the air quality disrupted the qualifying rounds of the 2019-20 Australian bushfires has uncovered how affect! Responsible for air quality more than 12 times hazardous levels today heat waves conditions should take extra.. In areas across NSW indicate how clean or polluted the air quality index sydney air quality bushfires to times.