Hot Days Spark Air Quality Advisory

Friday, July 13, 2007 10:39 AM

The Ministry of Environment has issued an Air Quality advisory for Prince George due to high levels of fine particulate matter in the airshed above us.

This is the third advisory of 2007 - the first two were issued just days apart at the end of January.

Based on the air quality data, the high levels appear to be predominantly due to combustion sources with some contribution from dust.

Light winds, dry conditions and clear skies over the area resulted in pollutants again being trapped in the airshed.

Twenty-four hour levels were 50 at Downtown, 29 at College Heights and 104 at the BCR site at 10:00 a.m. this afternoon. (The Air Quality objective for PM10 is 50 µg/m3 for a 24-hour average).

Levels are expected to be higher during the late evening and again tomorrow morning. This Air Quality Advisory is expected to be in effect until further notice, with an update to be provided this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

For more information on particulate matter levels please call the 24 hour Ministry of Environment Air Quality Index Line at 565-6457 or check the Ministry’s website at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/nor/pollution/environmental/air/index.html.

For information on the effects of air quality on persons with respiratory or cardiac illnesses please contact the Northern Health at 565- 2150 or check the Northern Health website at www.Northerhealth.ca

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Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 10:39 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: owl on July 13 2007 11:59 AM

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca:8000/pls/aqiis/air.summary

click onto the above site and you will get the "picture" from accross BC on a series of days with very similar weather accross the province .... hot ... inversions ...

PG tops the list with the highest numbers. Williams Lake is next.

Will this ever change? Not in my lifetime from the looks of it.

What is it about this thing that people responsible do not get? We are not the only city sitting in a valley or bowl. We are not the only city with industry.

Posted by: lunarguy on July 13 2007 12:06 PM

I am surprised the press release didn't blame the bad air on the typical cause in the winter time " wood stoves as the the source of combustion ".

Maybe cause they realized how stupid it would sound, just the same as it does in the winter time !

I fail to see how, even say with 150 - 200 people burning wood it would have any where near the hourly effect of the amount of pollution being pumped into the air from other sources.

Posted by: camoose on July 13 2007 2:55 PM

Poor air quality due to "combustion sources" Why not just say industrial sources. How many politically correct ways are there to avoid blaming industry. I promise to do my part; starting today i will not burn my wood stove for at least 3 days. That should help.

Posted by: lmorg on July 13 2007 3:42 PM

I remember driving down 15th ave. towards the downtown area on some hot summer mornings to see a veil of yellowish, mustard gas sitting at the intersection of 15th and Carney. My offices were located downtown so I used to shudder as I entered this foul smelling environment. In the mornings I would emerge from the office after a night shift and literally swoon from the smell and the effect it had on my eyes and lungs. I know other cities in bc are located in geographical bowls, but PG has got to be the worst. I never had any breathing difficulties prior to coming to PG but I now have asthma.