BREATHE EASY TIPS outlined by the Asthma Foundation of Tasmania:
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Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed.
Minimise the amount of physical outdoor activity.
If using an air conditioner or heat pump at home or in the car, set it to "recycle".
Try to minimise exposure to other irritants such as cigarette smoke and dust.
Make sure a blue-grey reliever medication is at hand.
VICTORIA was the source of smoke that shrouded widespread areas of Northern Tasmania yesterday.
Both the Bureau of Meteorology and the Environmental Protection Authority confirmed yesterday that smoke had drifted across Bass Strait.
Authority director Warren Jones said that satellite images showed the smoke had come from East Gippsland, where a number of planned burns were in progress.
He said that several large areas of smoke were seen at St Helens and the Fingal Valley, Launceston, the Tamar Valley and as far west as Ulverstone.
"The EPA air monitoring stations in the North of Tasmania have recorded extremely high levels of smoke today," Mr Jones said.
"Smoke particle levels of above 100 micrograms per cubic metre have been recorded."
A typical smoky winter evening in Launceston could have smoke particles at levels of 50 micrograms a cubic metre.
Air quality reached its worst about 9.30am yesterday but by late last night all centres had dropped to safe levels.
The Asthma Foundation of Tasmania yesterday released a warning about the dangers of smoke to those with respiratory problems.
Chief executive Cathy Beswick said that any form of visible smoke was dangerous to the lungs.
"In an ideal world there wouldn't be any smoke but there is smoke and there is fire and it is unrealistic to say that is going to change," Ms Beswick said.
"But we want to call on all members of the public and all organisations that undertake activities or need to burn ... to do so within the guidelines set out by the relevant government authorities."
Although Forestry Tasmania has started its controversial autumn burn off season, it said that five planned burns yesterday in the Mersey district did not produce a large amount of smoke.
Bass Greens MHA Kim Booth had blamed Forestry Tasmania for the smoke shroud.
When told of the Victorian fires, Mr Booth said that Tasmanian burn-offs had contributed.
General manager of operations Paul Smith said that burns must be conducted when the conditions were right.
"We are aware of Saturday's election and it would have been more comfortable for us to delay the burns. We are not burning because we want to, we are burning because it is in the best interest of the forest," Mr Smith said.
The Parks and Wildlife Service said yesterday that it would begin its burns this week.
It said burning would be done at the Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area and near Narawntapu National Park.