Residents of Brooklyn, in Melbourne's west, have been plagued  by dust pollution for many years and the Environment Protection Authority's annual report reveals the problem is not going away.

Air pollution caused by a nearby industrial estate is almost six times the acceptable standard.

Bert Boere, from the Brooklyn Residents Action Group, said locals were fed up and some had moved away due to  fears about the impact of dust on children's health.

"We are regularly clocking up the worst dust levels in Melbourne. I have stood on some local roads where you can taste the dust in your mouth and it gets in your eyes."

Many residents have to clean their clogged gutters of fine dust every three months, he said.

He called on the state government to coordinate a solution for the suburb's pollution woes.

According to the EPA report, there were 29 days in Brooklyn last financial year that exceeded air quality goals for fine dust particles, rated PM10.

The World Health Organisation says people should not be exposed to high levels of the particles for more than five days a year.

While there has been a slight improvement from the previous year, in which there were 33 poor air quality days, the situation has deteriorated since 2011-12, when there were 20 poor days a year.

Nearby Annunciation Primary School is notified by the EPA when air quality is rated "poor" or "very poor", and children are kept indoors until dust levels improve.

Last year, the Napthine government pledged $900,000 to help seal two dusty roads that border the industrial estate.

But the $2.7 million roadworks stalled after a successful VCAT appeal by businesses opposed to paying for their share of the work.

A spokeswoman for the EPA said the authority recognised the  dust problem in the Brooklyn residential area, and had a monitoring station in the area since 2009.

She said the EPA would use a mobile dust monitor in the next few months to provide a better understanding of dust movement in the area and identify sources.

More than 50 dust notices have been issued to local businesses since 2010 and there are 30 active pollution abatement notices for dust-producing industry in Brooklyn and Tottenham.

State Labor MP for Williamstown, Wade Noonan, said the number of poor air quality days were up by almost 50 per cent compared to two years ago.

He said dust problems in Brooklyn remained "one of the most serious ongoing environmental problems in the state".

"Promising money to fix roads that remain dust bowls has led our community up a dead-end street."

But Environment Minister Ryan Smith said Labor had ignored the matter for 11 years in office.

"It is the Napthine Coalition government that has provided $900,000 to support Brimbank Council to resolve this matter."

henrietta.cook@fairfaxmedia.com.au