Road Dust Blamed For 2nd Air Advisory

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Haze over the City looking from the Ospika Boulevard hill

For the second time in less than a week, the Ministry of Environment has issued an Air Quality advisory for the city of Prince George.

The first advisory of 2007 was issued last Friday and last through to Monday morning.  According to the Ministry, it was due to high levels of fine particulate matter mainly from combustion sources.

This latest advisory, once again, shows a high level of fine particulates, "predominately due to road dust with some contribution from combustion sources."

Twenty-four hour levels were 65 at Downtown, 50 at College Heights and 58 at the BCR site late yesterday afternoon. The Ministry expected levels to be higher during the late evening and again this morning. The Air Quality objective for PM10 levels is 50 for a 24-hour average.

The Ministry says,  "Light winds, dry conditions and clear skies over the area (have) resulted in pollutants again being trapped in the airshed."

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