Wood smoke from homes and dust from construction and roads are among the biggest culprits for poor air quality in Prince George, a new report out of the University of Northern BC says.
This is according to an updated Air Emissions Inventory and Modelling Report prepared by the university on behalf of the PG Air Improvement Round Table.
“Ideally, if you are breathing the air outside of your own home, you would like to know what sources are contributing and how much they are contributing to the air pollution you are inhaling,” explained UNBC’s Dr. Peter Jackson at Monday’s meeting.
The study, using data from 2014-16, found industrial emissions of fine particulate matter had dropped by 40 per cent since the last study in 2005.
Data from 2016 was used in the update, as 2017 and 2018 are considered outliers due to above-average wildfire smoke.
Industrial sulphur dioxide emissions also decreased by 24 per cent in the same timeframe.
The modelling also recorded the hourly amount of fine particulate matter in the air over the course of three years.
“Over the years, Prince George has had some of the highest concentrations of particulate matter in the province,” said Jackson, adding PM 2.5, known as fine particulate matter, can cause serious health issues.
In an effort to improve air quality, the city has regulated the use of woodburning appliances, open burning, recreational fires and fugitive dust control.
The City has also made improvements to road traction maintenance and street sweeping operations to mitigate road dust generation.
PM 2.5 was found to be highest in the hart and bowl neighbourhoods as well as the BCR Industrial Site, with a significant difference in the winter.
The updated information on air emissions will likely be taken into account when it comes to the Clean Air Bylaw.