Blue line  reflects  downward trend of  PM 2.5 in downtown Prince George –  graph courtesy  PG AIR.

Prince George, B.C. – P.G. Air Improvement  roundtable  is on target to reach its goal of a 40% reduction in fine particulates from the Prince George airshed by the end of 2016.

PG AIR  Executive Director  Terry Robert  says there have been significant gains   in air quality  improvement  .  Levels of PM 2.5, the fine particulate, which is most detrimental to health,  have  dropped  significantly since 1998 and are now  well below the Provincial objective for maximum.

Robert says there has been  a  great deal of  positive work done by industry when it comes to reducing emissions,  and by the City and Ministry of Transportation when it comes to successful street sweeping practices, but,  there is still  work  needed to be done  when it comes to sweeping of private parking lots and in the area of transportation.

He says  there are  some things which cannot be  controlled, such as wildfires.  The chart above shows a spike in  2010 and again in 2012 and 2013 all due to  forest fires in the region.

Robert  said there is the matter of sulphur that  has to be addressed.  He said while  the amounts of  sulphur do not pose a health threat to  individuals,  they  do  pose a  threat to the  health of the community  as  the odour  reinforces a bad  air quality image of  Prince George.