A thick blanket of smoke covered Sydney on Friday, April 11, as planned hazard reduction burns pushed air quality to “very poor” levels across the city. The smoke, visible across western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, comes from controlled burns covering over 6,600 hectares in the greater Sydney region. NSW Health’s Director of Environmental Health, Dr. Stephen Conaty, has raised serious concerns about the smoke’s health effects. While many people might notice a cough or sore throat, the situation is much riskier for those with existing health problems. The most extensive burns are happening in the Blue Mountains National Park, … Continue reading Sydney Air Quality Plunges as 6,600 Hectares Burn in Hazard Reduction Efforts