This follows a government health warning for residents to stay inside on hot, windy days due to dust levels normally associated with a bushfire.

As reported by this newspaper in

February, air quality monitors showed dust particles exceeded acceptable levels [50 micrograms per cubic metre] on 13 days out of 100.

Brooklyn Residents' Action Group president Charlie Volpe said residents wanted something like an immunisation program "to plot to where our health is and to plot to see if our health deteriorates".

The weather had cooled down, but dust levels still remained high, he said.

"We don't want to be prisoners in our own community. We want to have the freedom to go outside. Residents want to know whether you're in a risk category and, if you are, what precautions you can take."

He said the Environment Protection Authority also needed greater powers.

Health Department spokesman Bram Alexander said monitoring of residents' health should be raised with the EPA.

Hobsons Bay deputy mayor Tony Briffa said the Health Department must act. He said there were two government roles regarding air quality in Brooklyn: "One is making sure industry does not pollute the environment and the other is ensuring the ongoing health of the Victorian community."

"The environment aspect should be led by the EPA, but the Department of Health must take the lead on any issue relating to the health and well-being of the community," Cr Briffa said.

As reported by this newspaper on May 4, the EPA is awaiting a laboratory analysis of dust collected at Brooklyn. EPA senior manager Matt Vincent said he understood residents' frustration at not knowing the composition of the dust they had been inhaling.

"There is no way to fast-track this and it will be several months before we are able to provide the community with meaningful results," he said.