While there are a number of acknowledged sources of harmful air emissions, Council's efforts this year largely focused upon addressing the impact of inefficient and environmentally unsustainable transport systems. At the regional level the weather is predominantly determined by low and high pressure air masses that continually pass over the Australian continent. The air pollutants, which are emitted constantly, interact with the prevailing meteorological conditions to produce good or bad air quality outcomes for Penrith. Unfortunately, the dynamics of the meteorology of the Sydney Region are not well enough understood to be able to confidently predict bad air quality events through modelling. Figure 14 is an illustrated example of a common event, however further work is required to confirm it.
All air contains some form of pollutant.
It is not pure, even in natural ecosystems contaminants such as windblown dust, bushfire smoke, salt particles from the oceans and gases from the decay of organisms are present. These sources are described as biogenetic, or naturally occurring. In areas of human habitation additional contaminants are emitted into the air such as smoke and gases from industrial processes, electricity generation and transportation, incineration, garbage disposal and domestic heating. These sources are defined as anthropogenic, or man-made. Air pollution is of major concern to the people of Penrith and other areas of the State.