Air Aware

The air we breathe has a massive impact on our health and our lives. It may look clean and clear but on closer inspection, there are many small particles that can make their way into our lungs and can lead to a range of health problems.

These microscopic specks are officially known as ‘Particulate Matter’ and are labelled PM₁₀ for the larger ones and PM_2.5 for the tiniest of particles.

Breathing in these fine traces of pollution can lead to coughing and breathing difficulties. They can aggravate asthma and harm our cardiovascular systems. 

The particles come from numerous sources, but here in Tasman they mostly come from wood burning for home heating, industrial emissions, exhaust fumes from vehicles and wind-blown dust, pollen and even sea salt.

Complete our Air Aware activities to learn and improve air quality at your place

Take part in these fun activities where you get to investigate what we can do to improve the quality of the air we breathe. You can download digital copies using the links below.

• Get started by reading our Air Aware booklet (pdf 1.4 MB). This booklet contains tips for keeping our air clean and your home healthy and warm. It also has all the information you’ll need to ace Air Aware Bingo and the Air Aware Quiz.
  
  
• Download and play Air Aware Bingo (pdf 200 KB). This will challenge you to learn about air quality, share what you learn with friends and whānau, and take action to improve air quality at your place. Our Air Aware prize draw is now closed, but we'd still love to see your photos! You can send photos of you completing the Bingo actions to: [email protected] 
  
  
• Carry out your own Air Aware experiment (pdf 1 MB). Embrace your inner-scientist to create pollution traps and investigate how clear the air is at different locations around your home, school or workplace. If you'd like to share photos of your experiment, send them to: [email protected]