Mr. PG with smoky skies in the background; photo taken August 2018. (via Hanna Petersen)
Air quality advisories aren't something we typically think of too often in the fall here in the Lower Mainland, however one was just issued for Prince George.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in collaboration with Northern Health, issued an air quality advisory for the northern B.C. city this morning because of the high concentration of fine particulate matter detected in the air.
During these advisories the city's clean air bylaw prohibits all open burning, including backyard burning, and land clearing burning.
The bylaw also prohibits recreational fires, use of wood-burning appliances, and street-sweeping activities. Industry is also asked to reduce emissions wherever possible during the advisory.
How does this happen in the fall, when most wildfires have finally been extinguished? Anecdotally you'll hear people say that it's because it's a pulp mill town, which is mostly true.
The official line from the region's Air Improvement Roundtable is that "Prince George faces serious, longstanding air quality problems. These are linked primarily to topography, emissions from transportation, industry, road dust, burning of wood for home heating and recreational use, and natural background sources."
Real-time air quality observations and information regarding the health effects of air pollution can be found at www.bcairquality.ca
With files from Hanna Petersen, Prince George Matters
