Australia should continue working on ways to reduce air pollution, says an expert whose organisation is hosting a one-week conference in NSW.
People should know the air they breath can harm them, says Professor Guy Marks of the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.
The main concerns are vehicles, domestic wood heaters, mining, shipping and power stations, he says.
"There is a need to keep reducing emissions through incremental changes to regulations."
He is particularly concerned about older diesel engines which emit fine particles that can damage the heart and lungs.
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"Worryingly, current research shows there's no safe level of exposure. The evidence suggests that any reduction in pollution is likely to result in less disease and a healthier population."
He acknowledges that in some respects Australia's air quality is better than western Europe and parts of the US, but says there is still room for improvement.
One way to reduce vehicle emissions is to improve the efficiency of engines and the other is to reduce traffic, says Prof Marks.
"There is a need for policies that address both of those."
But he says there are flaws in Australian policy, which does not do enough to encourage emission reductions.
The week-long program starts on Thursday with a free public lecture by leading UK air quality expert Professor Ross Anderson.
Other international delegates include US Professor Arden Pope and Professor Bert Brunekreef from the Netherlands.
