854  
WOCN20 CWVR 091706  
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT  
FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA  
ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE B.C. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT  
AND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY  
AT 9:06 A.M. PST MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 2024.  
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:  
=NEW= EAST COLUMBIA.  
 
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==DISCUSSION==  
 
AIR QUALITY ADVISORY AND OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT FOR  
GOLDEN  
 
(DECEMBER 09, 2024 9:00 AM) THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE  
CHANGE STRATEGY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INTERIOR HEALTH AUTHORITY  
HAS ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ADVISORY FOR GOLDEN DUE TO HIGH  
CONCENTRATIONS OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER THAT ARE EXPECTED TO  
PERSIST UNTIL WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.  
 
EXPOSURE IS PARTICULARLY A CONCERN FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC  
CONDITIONS SUCH AS ASTHMA, COPD, HEART DISEASE, AND  
DIABETES(SEMICOLON) RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS SUCH AS COVID-19,  
PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS, AND OLDER ADULTS. PERSONS WITH CHRONIC  
UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR ACUTE INFECTIONS SHOULD POSTPONE OR  
REDUCE STRENUOUS EXERCISE UNTIL THE ADVISORY IS LIFTED. WHERE  
APPROPRIATE, MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING. ANYONE EXPERIENCING  
SYMPTOMS SUCH AS CONTINUING EYE OR THROAT IRRITATION, CHEST  
DISCOMFORT, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, COUGH OR WHEEZING, SHOULD FOLLOW  
THE ADVICE OF THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. STAYING INDOORS HELPS TO  
REDUCE EXPOSURE.  
 
OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS ARE NOW IN EFFECT FOR GOLDEN AND  
SURROUNDING AREA UNTIL DECEMBER 10, 2024 10:00 AM LOCAL TIME. NO NEW  
FIRES MAY BE INITIATED AND NO ADDITIONAL MATERIAL MAY BE ADDED TO  
EXISTING FIRES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BURNING RESTRICTIONS, SEE  
THE SECTION BELOW ENTITLED MANDATORY EMISSION REDUCTION ACTIONS.  
 
REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY OBSERVATIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE  
HEALTH EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION CAN BE FOUND AT  
 
HTTPS://WWW.GOV.BC.CA/AIRQUALITY  
 
FINE PARTICULATE MATTER, PM2.5, REFERS TO AIRBORNE SOLID OR LIQUID  
DROPLETS WITH DIAMETERS OF 2.5 MICROMETRES OR LESS. PM2.5 LEVELS  
TEND TO BE HIGHEST AROUND BUSY ROADS, INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS AND  
NEIGHBOURHOODS WITH RESIDENTIAL WOOD BURNING. PM2.5 CAN EASILY  
PENETRATE INDOORS BECAUSE OF THEIR SMALL SIZE. COMMON SOURCES OF  
PM2.5 THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EPISODES OF POOR AIR QUALITY INCLUDE WOOD  
SMOKE (FROM WOOD STOVES AND/OR OPEN BURNING) AS WELL AS EMISSIONS  
FROM INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION SOURCES SUCH AS AUTOMOBILES, TRUCKS  
AND RAIL TRAFFIC.  
 
MANDATORY EMISSION REDUCTION ACTIONS  
 
AS POLLUTION IS OCCURRING OR IS LIKELY TO OCCUR FROM OPEN BURNING,  
PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 30(1) AND 30(2) OF THE OPEN BURNING SMOKE  
CONTROL REGULATION, THE DIRECTOR HAS PROHIBITED OPEN BURNING IN THE  
GOLDEN AREA WITHIN 50KM OF THE HOSPITAL UNTIL DECEMBER 10, 2024  
10:00 AM LOCAL TIME. NO VEGETATIVE DEBRIS MAY BE IGNITED OR ADDED TO  
IGNITED PILES. CONTRAVENTION OF THESE PROVISIONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A  
FINE UNDER THE REGULATION.  
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CURRENT AIR QUALITY, VISIT  
HTTPS://WWW2.GOV.BC.CA/GOV/CONTENT/ENVIRONMENT/AIR-LAND-WATER/AIR.  
 
VISIT HTTP://WWW.AIRHEALTH.CA FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR  
HEALTH RISK AND YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO POLLUTION LEVELS, AS  
WELL AS FOR CURRENT AND FORECAST AQHI VALUES.  
 
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY  
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.  
 
HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA  
 
END/PSPC  
 
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