AIR QUALITY WARNING IN EFFECT

An Air Quality Warning has been issued for Central Fraser Valley/Eastern Fraser Valley due to elevated ground-level ozone (smog) and in Eastern Fraser Valley due to fine particulate matter (small particles in the air that may impact health). The ozone (smog) warning is expected to last at least until tomorrow. The fine particular matter warning is expected to last today and tomorrow or until smoke conditions improve. The warnings will remain in effect until further notice.

Cause: Hot and sunny weather in combination with local emissions has resulted in elevated levels of ground-level ozone. Smoke from the Sailor Bar wildfire burning north of Yale in the Fraser Canyon has resulted in elevated levels of fine particulate matter in the Eastern Fraser Valley.

Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures, and wildfire behaviour changes.

Air Quality Warning in effect for:

• Metro Vancouver – Northeast (smog)
• Metro Vancouver – Southeast (smog)
• Central Fraser Valley (smog): Abbotsford, Mission, Hatzic Island, and Nicomen Island

• Eastern Fraser Valley (fine particulate matter and smog): Chilliwack, Cultus, Hope, Deroche, Lake Errock, Harrison Mills, Chilliwack Lake, Popkum, Kent, Harrison, Laidlaw, and Seabird Island.

Important information:

• Outdoor Activities: Consider postponing or limiting outdoor activities, especially for people at risk, including those with lung and heart conditions or diabetes, pregnant people, infants, children, and older adults. Take it easy and take frequent breaks if outdoor activities cannot be avoided.
• Find Cleaner Air: Use a portable HEPA air cleaner in one or more rooms at home. Keep windows and doors closed but ensure the space does not get too hot. If your home is too smoky or hot, spend time in community spaces that have air conditioning since they also tend to have better air quality. These can include community centres, libraries, and shopping malls.
• Heat Safety: Heat and air pollution can happen together. Heat is a bigger health concern for most people. Stay cool, drink plenty of water and spend time in spaces with air conditioning. Check with your municipality to see if cooling centres are available near you.
• Monitor Your Symptoms: Seek medical care for symptoms like chest discomfort, shortness of breath, severe coughing or wheezing, and dizziness. Check on family, friends, and neighbours often, and call 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.

• Check Air Quality Regularly: Monitor the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) rating nearest you at airmap.ca or gov.bc.ca/airqualitymap. Use the current health messages accompanying the rating to make decisions about your outdoor activities. Air quality can change throughout the day and by location so check the AQHI often. Sign up for Air Quality Warnings alerts and updates at metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/mailing-list.

 

Other Actions to Protect your Health:

• Take it easy and limit outdoor exercise, because the harder you breathe, the more air pollution you inhale.
• Run portable air cleaners, such as those with HEPA filters or do-it-yourself air cleaners, to reduce air pollution in your home. Make sure that the air cleaners are the right size for the spaces you are using them in, and to change filters regularly.
• Continue to manage pre-existing chronic health conditions such as asthma, COPD or other lung diseases, heart disease, and diabetes. Use symptom-management medications, such as inhalers, as needed. Seek medical attention if symptoms continue to be bothersome.
• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can alleviate some respiratory symptoms.
• Special measures to protect outdoor workers and people who are unhoused are recommended. If possible, find alternate duties indoors or provide fitted masks and frequent breaks for outdoor workers. Support workers to monitor for symptoms and discontinue outdoor work if needed. Community spaces are encouraged to relax policies and allow unhoused people to shelter inside for as long as possible.
• If outdoor activities cannot be avoided, consider wearing a well-fitted mask labeled with letters and numbers like N95, KB95, or KF94. This can help reduce the amount of small particles in wildfire smoke that you breathe in. A cloth mask with three layers or a disposable medical mask can also give some protection. Masks with only one layer, along with bandanas, scarves, or t-shirts, won't protect you from small particles. Wearing a mask can make breathing more difficult, so always pay attention to how you are feeling and reduce or stop your activities if you feel unwell.
• Having a smoke readiness plan for buildings can help protect occupants. Plans may include actions to limit smoke entry into buildings and upgrading or adding supplemental air filtration during smoky periods.

Background

• Air Quality Warning: Metro Vancouver has changed the name of an Air Quality Advisory to Air Quality Warning this year. While the underlying advisory program will remain unchanged, the terminology is being revised to support greater consistency and clarity. This change aligns with ongoing collaboration between Metro Vancouver and provincial and federal partners to improve public understanding of air quality warnings.
• Ground-Level Ozone: A type of air contaminant (commonly known as smog) that forms when contaminants emitted from various sources, like vehicles and industrial activities, react with each other in the presence of sunlight. It can affect air quality, potentially causing respiratory issues. Learn more here: player.vimeo.com/video/218925373.
• Fine Particulate Matter: Small particles in the air that may impact health, often referred to as PM_2.5. These particles can come from many sources, including wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust, industrial processes, and burning of materials. PM_2.5 can enter the lungs and impact respiratory health. More information on the health effects of wildfire smoke and ways to reduce exposures, such as using air filtration, can be found at bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/wildfire-smoke.
• Under provincial legislation, Metro Vancouver is responsible for monitoring air quality; controlling industrial, commercial, and some residential emissions; creating long-term plans; and conducting emission inventories for the Metro Vancouver region.
• Metro Vancouver works collaboratively with local health authorities (Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health Authority), First Nations Health Authority and the BC Centre for Disease Control to develop the health messaging contained within this warning.
• To reduce air emissions throughout the Lower Mainland, Metro Vancouver works cooperatively with Fraser Valley Regional District, BC Ministry of Environment and Parks, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and other agencies to develop and implement emission-reduction programs and policies for businesses and local residents, and to monitor and report out on air quality. Further information is found on Metro Vancouver’s website.

Learn More:

• Sign up for Alertable to receive air quality advisories.
• Fact sheets on the health effects of wildfire smoke and information on how to reduce exposures, such as using air filtration, can be found at http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/wildfire-smoke
• Information about real-time air quality readings and potential health impacts can be found at www.airmap.ca and www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/find-stations-map.html.
• Check out the FVRD’s Air Quality Management Plan to learn about important air challenges we face in our region and how you can help.