577
WOCN20 CWVR 100735
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE B.C. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
AND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
AT 11:35 P.M. PST MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 2024.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
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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