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According to the Australian Conservation Foundation, Collie has fifth air quality among the most degraded cities in Australia.
The new ACF Dirty truth The report lists the most polluted cities and suburbs of the country by postal code.
Collie and Newman in Western Australia, Mount Isa in Queensland, Hunter Region in New South Wales and Latrobe Valley in Victoria have been identified.
Coal-fired power plants are the largest emitters in three of these regions, while mining generates the most emissions in the other two.
The Collie (Muja) plant is responsible for 66.77% of the region's emissions.
It was also found that 90% of polluting facilities listed in the National Pollutant Inventory were in postal codes with a low average weekly income.
Only 0.1% of polluting facilities were in areas where households had high incomes.
Matthew Rose, head of the economic program of the Australian Conservation Foundation, said living in heavily polluted areas had claimed many lives.
"Air pollution is a climate problem and a class problem in Australia. The poorest Australians living around mines or refineries or in the shadow of coal-fired plants unfairly bear the burden of pollution, a byproduct of the goods and services that all Australians use, "said Mr. Rose .
"It's often about economics. It may be because the land is cheaper there. Or maybe governments and businesses have decided to put these facilities in low-income areas, because often these communities do not have as much political power.
Many low-income Australians can afford to rent or buy only in areas where the risk of exposure to air pollution is increased. If they get sick from the air, they can not just afford to go somewhere else – and why would they?
Matthew Rose, Head of Economics Program, Australian Conservation Foundation
"Many low-income Australians can afford to rent or buy only in areas where the risk of exposure to air pollution is increased. If they get sick from the air, they can not afford to simply move elsewhere. And why should they? "
Mr Rose said that elderly people and children are extremely vulnerable in highly polluted areas.
Air pollution kills about 3,000 Australians each year and worsens problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.
Matthew Rose, Head of Economics Program, Australian Conservation Foundation
"Air pollution kills about 3,000 Australians every year and worsens problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases," he said.
"Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the direct effects of air pollution on health. These are the same groups that are most affected by heat waves, which worsen due to climate change.
"Australia's standards for air pollution are fragmented and – where they exist – are often weaker than the standards recommended by the World Health Organization.
"The fight against air pollution has been too hard for too long.
"People should not have to move to get away from pollution. Australia needs new, nationally consistent air quality standards and an independent body to regulate and enforce the rules. "
ACF's report is based on the NPI emission data and the weekly household income of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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