New Westminster Environmental Almanac (2917 ... - Douglas College

Other Environmental Concerns
Air Quality
Air quality can be a concern in any urban setting. A major cause of poor
air quality is human activity including motor vehicle use and industry.
Although other factors such as local climate, weather and geographical
setting influence air quality, it can be generally understood that the more
densely populated an area is, the larger the concern for air quality. In
Greater Vancouver, we released 301 000 tonnes of air pollutants to our
atmosphere in 1999. Motor vehicles contributed almost 75% of this
amount, cars accounted for 58% alone. Air quality, monitored by the
GVRD, is reported as the Air Quality Index. The Index is a numerical
scale used to express the three air quality objectives determined by the
federal Canadian Environment Protection Act labelled Maximum
Desirable, Maximum Acceptable, and Maximum Tolerable. The air
quality objectives are determined by the effects that different
concentrations of air pollutants have on humans and the environment.
There are 33 air quality stations in the GVRD, the closest to New
Westminster being in South Burnaby. The Air Quality Index is updated
twice daily during weekdays and daily during weekends, except during
the summer ozone season when the Index is update twice daily every day
of the week. Current readings can be obtained from the GVRD at 604
436 6767 or 1 800 665 1118. The Air Quality Index is published daily in
the Vancouver Sun and Province and is frequently reported on TV and
radio.
Smog can damage lungs, aggravate asthma, and increase
the risk of getting respiratory diseases and certain types of
cancer. Crops, natural vegetation and buildings can also be
damaged by smog.
Conditions are looking clearer though. Since 1985, even with our
continuing population growth, new regulations and regional air quality
plans have resulted in an approximate 40% decline in the amount of
common air contaminants released in the GVRD.
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Other Environmental Concerns