Dirty air figures alarm

There were 171 exceedences of the national guideline for particulate matter less than 10 microns per cubic metre (PM10) in Newcastle and the Hunter throughout the year.

The figure compares to 115 during 2012.

Particle pollution levels exceeded the PM10 standard five times at the Beresfield monitoring site, four times at the Newcastle High sports field and twice at Wallsend.

Industry monitoring revealed additional exceedences.

Muswellbrook residents were exposed to PM10 levels more than twice the national standard on September 15.

An Office of Environment and Heritage spokeswoman said air quality data needed to be considered over a longer period.

Air quality was also impacted by significant events such as dust storms and bushfires, she said.

"Particle levels for the Hunter monitoring network in 2013 were affected by a dry winter and high winds and serious bushfires during October," the spokeswoman said.

"In the Lower Hunter, eight of the 11 PM10 exceedences this year occurred in October. The National Environment Protection Measure annual reports show that air quality in 2007, 2008 and 2009 was similarly affected by significant events, mainly dust storms."

She said particulate matter levels were higher across the entire NSW air quality monitoring network than in 2012.

Hunter Community Environment Centre spokesman James Whelan said air quality controls were needed to protect the community.

"How bad does pollution need to get before the NSW government steps in with policies and programs to improve community health?

"We call on Premier Barry O'Farrell to reject the proposed (T4) coal terminal and to implement measures to ensure pollution levels remain below the national guideline, such as insisting that coal wagons and stockpiles are covered."

Full 2013 air quality data will be available in mid-January.