Last updated on 21/10/2026

 

Nigel Goodman, Sharon Campbell, Danielle Cameron, Morgan Brain, Nicolás Borchers Arriagada, Amanda Wheeler, Veronica Matthews, Bandana Saini, Karima Laachir, Erin I. Walsh, Fay Johnston, Sotiris Vardoulakis

Why this research matters

If you or someone you love lives with asthma, you already know how much the air you breathe can shape your day, especially during bushfire season or on cold, smoky winter evenings. With support from Asthma Australia, the Healthy Air Project set out to answer a simple, urgent question: What actually works, both practically and affordably, to reduce harmful smoke and other air pollution for people with asthma?

Over the past two years, the project team reviewed the best available science, listened to communities, ran economic analyses, and co designed easy-to-use resources. The result is a clearer roadmap to help families and clinicians prepare for smoky days and protect their health, especially for those most at risk.

The strongest evidence: what works to reduce smoke exposure

The team conduced a systematic review of the peer reviewed literature on real world interventions for smoke exposure reduction. They found several options that you can trust during bushfire smoke or other pollution events. Key findings include:

  • Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters (often called “air purifiers”) consistently reduced fine particle levels (PM₂.₅) indoors by ~54–92%, depending on the device and room conditions.
  • Well-fitted P2/N95 facemasks were highly effective, removing up to ~94% of fine particles with each breath when correctly used. Facemasks are an important option for unavoidable trips outdoors, and sometimes indoors if smoke has infiltrated the home.
  • Upgrading building mechanical ventilation filters if your home or workplace has central heating or air conditioning, moving from standard filters (e.g., minimum efficiency reporting value MERV 8) to MERV 12/13 achieved up to ~87% reductions in indoor PM₂.₅ from smoke related air pollution. This is especially relevant for workplaces, schools, and public buildings.
  • Low cost “fan filter” units (a box fan plus a MERV13 filter) can help when budgets are tight, offering meaningful particle reductions if built and used safely. The inclusion of a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) in a box fan is also a common configuration.
  • Clean indoor air shelters (pre identified, well filtered community spaces) show promise for short term relief and social support, but need further testing in prolonged smoke episodes to fine tune operations and access.

The review also found that apps, alerts, and communications can help people take protective actions, but they work best when messages are consistent, timely, and paired with practical steps (like how to fit a mask or choose the right air cleaner).

Do the benefits outweigh the costs? (Short answer: yes)

To move from “what works” to “what’s worth it,” the team modelled health benefits and cost effectiveness for different Australian cities, focusing on HEPA air cleaners and P2/N95 masks. While the optimal mix varies by location (because smoke patterns differ), the analysis showed that the health gains from masks and air cleaners generally outweigh their costs—a crucial finding for household planning and for government support programs.

This matters for family budgets and for policy: it supports initiatives like targeted subsidies, loan programs, or community clean air spaces when smoke risk is high.

Listening first: what communities told us

Asthma Australia’s investment ensured the research started with people’s lived experience during an air pollution event such as a bushfire.

  • Aboriginal community yarning circles (Far West NSW, Northern Rivers, and ongoing work in other regions) highlighted four recurring concerns: bushfire smoke, dust, mould, and poor housing quality. Participants asked for resources in Aboriginal languages, featuring local community members, and delivered through trusted channels (in person yarning, social media, and simple posters/flyers). Early warning messages tailored to local contexts were seen as vital.
  • Arabic-speaking community roundtables (ACT, NSW, VIC) found low awareness of air pollution risks and important cultural/linguistic barriers to accessing health protection advice. Stakeholders emphasised the role of religious leaders and centres, Arabic language radio, WhatsApp/Facebook, and bilingual health professionals. They also identified passive smoke (including waterpipe/shisha) as a pressing air quality issue in daily life. Co designed, brief, bilingual (English–Arabic) factsheets and visuals were preferred over long documents.

These insights directly shaped the tools and messages created by the project team.

From evidence to action: resources you can use now

With Asthma Australia’s support, the project translated research into practical, accessible resources:

  • Simple factsheets & infographics on preparing for smoke, choosing and using HEPA air cleaners, fitting P2/N95 masks, and checking local air quality. These were developed in English and Arabic, and informed by community feedback.
  • A free online short course developed by the University of Tasmania on “Bushfires and Your Health” that covered smoke health effects, practical protections, and cultural competency. This course is offered during late spring/summer when risk of smoke from bushfires increases.
  • Children’s picture books about bushfire smoke and asthma—in English and Arabic—to help families talk about smoke safety in a calm, age appropriate way.
  • Policy briefings and webinars for public health officials, ensuring consistent messages reach communities before and during smoke events.

What this means for you (practical steps)

If you or a member of your family has asthma, when smoke threatens, consider this evidence-based checklist:

  1. Have a “smoke plan” – know your triggers, keep preventer medication up to date, and discuss an action plan with your GP. Do this before the season starts. Pair your plan with an air quality app such as AirRater so you can act early.
  2. Create at least one “clean room” In your homes. Use a HEPA air cleaner matched to the room size. Run it on high initially, then lower as needed; keep doors/windows closed when smoke is heavy. If budgets are tight, consider building a low cost “fan filter” unit (MERV13 filter). You could also ask your local council about loan programs or community resources.
  3. Use a well fitted P2/N95 mask when you must go outside during a smoke event, or indoors if smoke has infiltrated, especially during peaks. Fit matters more than brand; look for a snug seal over nose and chin. Smaller P2/N95 masks are also available for children.
  4. If you manage a workplace, school, or club, ask your building services manager about filter upgrades (to MERV 12/13) and plan for clean air spaces where vulnerable people can take breaks.
  5. For Arabic speaking families, seek and share culturally tailored resources through community channels or trusted websites (we have translated resources available here).

Beyond households: pushing for cleaner air everywhere

Asthma Australia’s investment didn’t stop at home advice. The project also supported policy engagement, including parliamentary forums on clean indoor air to contributions on wood heater policy and a national push for a Clean Air Strategy aimed to help reduce smoke and other forms of air pollution at the source. The policy work amplifies the benefits for everyone (and especially people with asthma), not just those who can afford to pay for air cleaners or upgraded ventilation systems.

What’s next

Some questions still need answers: How best to operate community clean air shelters during long smoke events? What financing models most effectively get HEPA devices into homes with priority populations? Which messages prompt the fastest action when smoke related air pollution spikes? The team has already launched follow on projects (in Australia and Southeast Asia) and is working with health services and governments to disseminate project findings.

The bottom line

Thanks to Asthma Australia’s support, we now have clear, practical evidence about how to keep smoke out of lungs – and a growing suite of trusted, culturally responsive resources to help people with asthma act on that evidence. When the air turns grey, you don’t need guesswork. You need simple steps that work, and systems that back you up. This investment is helping deliver both.