The Environment Protection Authority wants Latrobe Valley residents to become citizen scientists to help understand what is in their household dust.
The EPA is holding a community information session in Moe tonight and in Morwell on Saturday morning.
It wants to work with local residents to design a scientific study about the dust in their homes in a new program specifically targeting the Latrobe City local government area.
EPA field team leader Jessica Bandiera said experts would teach locals how to collect and analyse dust samples and how to interpret data.
“You don’t have to be a science expert. People will be taught what makes up household dust and they will work very closely with the EPA to make sure they are following procedures,” Ms Bandiera said.
Ms Bandiera said the study would take six months after which the findings will be presented to the public.
She stressed it was important not to pre-empt any findings about what Latrobe Valley household dust might contain.
She said the project was not affiliated with community sessions being run by mining company ENGIE in relation to mitigating dust from Hazelwood.
The EPA is running two information sessions open to all members of the public, this evening at the Moe Town Hall from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and on Saturday at the Morwell Neighbourhood House from 10am to noon.
The Morwell Neighbourhood House is located at 48-50 Beattie Crescent.
