Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 1 Contents

Clean Air For Albertans 3

Alberta Airsheds Map 5

2020 Air Quality Monitoring Profiles 7

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 8

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) 10

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) 12

Ozone (O3) 14 Air Quality And Health 16

Working Together For Clean Air 18

References 19 Clean Air For Albertans

Air quality has significant As part of this outreach, the Alberta impacts on human health Airsheds Council has prepared this 2020 Alberta Airsheds Air Quality Report and the environment. to provide a summary of the air quality data that is monitored and collected Alberta’s Airshed organizations are key in our province by Alberta’s Airsheds. strategic and place-based ambient air This information is important to share monitoring organizations, implementing with Albertans because air quality reliable and independent air quality affects our health and our environment. monitoring for the past 20 years. Airsheds also undertake significant Understanding air quality and on-the-ground community outreach its impacts helps Albertans make and air literacy projects in communities educated choices related to their health. across the province.

WHAT IS AN AIRSHED? Alberta’s Airsheds are organizations that operate regional networks responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and educating on outdoor air quality. As an important WHAT IS AIR QUALITY? part of Alberta’s Clean Air Strategy, Air quality is a measure of how 10 Airsheds were formed between clean, or polluted, the air is. 1996 and 2017. Refer to the map on Monitoring air quality is important page 5 to see the boundaries of the 10 because polluted air can be bad for Alberta Airsheds. our health and the environment.1

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 3 Within the 10 Alberta Airsheds there are 87 continuous monitoring stations (see map, page 5) and hundreds of other monitoring sites that measure a variety of air quality parameters using an assortment of monitoring technologies.

AIR QUALITY PARAMETERS MONITORED BY AIRSHEDS

• ammonia (NH3 ) • nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) • meteorological data, including:

• benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, • nitrogen oxides (NOX ) • air temperature xylene (BTEX) • ozone (O3 ) • barometric pressure • carbon dioxide (CO ) 2 • polycyclic aromatic • precipitation • carbon monoxide (CO) hydrocarbons (PAH) • relative humidity • coarse particulate matter (PM ) • sulphur dioxide (SO ) 10 2 • solar radiation • fine particulate matter (PM ) • total hydrocarbons (THC) 2.5 • wind speed and direction

• hydrogen sulphide (H2S) • total reduced sulfur (TRS) • methane/non-methane • total suspended particulate (TSP) hydrocarbons (CH /NMHC) 4 • volatile organic compounds • nitric oxide (NO) (VOCs), ethylene, styrene

MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES USED THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE

Continuous - Near instantaneous Time-Integrated - Integrated sampling measurements of pollutants; many methods, including canisters, specialized stations provide data for calculating instruments and analyzers are used the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). for measurement of specific air quality Most continuous monitoring stations are parameters over selected time periods located permanently at their respective of minutes to hours to days. sites; a number of Airsheds also employ Micro-Sensor - Community-based sensors portable continuous monitoring stations can be used to provide an indication of that monitor air quality at temporary sites. real-time air quality at the neighbourhood Passive - These monitors do not level. Handheld or wearable air quality require power and consist of a series sensors can be utilized by the public as of filters and chemicals that air passes part of a citizen science or educational through and reacts with. They detect program to understand air quality. low sample amounts and provide monthly average measurements of specific air quality parameters.

4 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report N

NORTHERNNORTHERN LIGHTS LIGHTS

NORTHERN SUNRISE CLEAR HILLS FORT MCMURRAY

PEACE RIVER OPPORTUNITY

PEACE

FAIRVIEWFAIRVIEW SADDLE HILLS SPIRIT BIRCH RIVER HILLS SMOKY SMOKYRIVER RIVER BIG LAKES

BIG LAKES GRANDE PRAIRIE LESSER SLAVE RIVER LAC LA GRANDE PRAIRIE BICHE

ATHABASCA BONNYVILLE GREENVIEW GREENVIEW BONNYVILLE

WOODLANDS BONNYVILLE WOODLANDS WESTLOCK SMOKY LAKE THORHILD

BARRHEAD ST. PAUL LAC STE. STURGEON LAMONT LAC STE. ANNE TWO ANNE TWOHILLS HILLS FORT SASKATCHEWAN

PARKLAND EDMONTON MINBURN VERMILION YELLOWHEAD DRAYTON VALLEY RIVER YELLOWHEAD LEDUC BRAZEAU BEAVERBEAVER

WETASKIWIN WETASKIWIN CAMROSE WAINWRIGHT

PONOKA FLAGSTAFF PONOKA

LACOMBE PROVOST

CLEARWATER STETTLER PAINTEARTH RED DEER RED DEERRED DEER

MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN VIEW KNEEHILL VIEW STARLAND

BIGHORN ROCKY VIEW ACADIA ACADIA CALGARY WHEATLAND

FOOTHILLS NEWELL VULCAN CYPRESSCYPRESS

WILLOW CREEK MEDICINE HAT RANCHLAND LETHBRIDGE LETHBRIDGE Alberta Airsheds TABER FORTY MILE PINCHER CREEK WARNER

(July 2020) MONITORING STATION CARDSTON Km 5 0 50 100 200 300 400 Across Alberta, Airsheds monitor a variety of pollutants and meteorological

conditions, including the four common pollutants of nitrogen dioxide NO2 ,

sulphur dioxide SO2, fine particulate matter 2.5PM and ozone O3.

These pollutants are managed in Canada through the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) as they can lead to smog, acid rain and health issues. Sources of these pollutants are many and include human-made sources such as combustion from large industries, vehicles, and individual homes, as well as natural sources such as wildfires. This report will focus on the 2020 annual data collected for these four common pollutants across Alberta.

FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL HOW TO REVIEW 2020 RESULTS GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS The results of 2020 monitoring of common In order to understand and protect air air pollutants (NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and O3) are quality, ambient levels of pollutants are presented in the following sections. Data are compared to guidelines and standards. In presented using graphs displaying annual Alberta, this involves the Alberta Ambient averages (solid coloured bar) and a 95th Air Quality Objectives (AAAQO), Alberta percentile marker (black line). The black lines, Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (AAAQG) also known as “whiskers”, show readings and the national Air Quality Management on the high end of the data collected at the System (AQMS), which includes Canadian monitoring stations, which helps to highlight Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) the 95th percentile data. The highest five and regional action plan management levels percent has not been reported here as it for each air zone. There are 1-hour, 8-hour, may contain “outliers” (observations that are 24-hour, 30-day and annual averages distant from the rest of the data that might for AAAQOs and AAAQGs. More be caused by extreme events from upsets to information on the guidelines natural conditions such as wildfires). and standards can be found at Where shown, red lines on the graphs indicate AlbertaAirshedsCouncil.ca. This the relevant threshold (acceptable provincial report highlights annual data or federal levels) for the guideline or standard compiled from 1-hour averages to for the air contaminant. provide context for the measured concentrations, which is presented as Alberta’s Air Monitoring Directive2, requires a annual averages for each pollutant. minimum operating time of 75% or more to calculate annual averages for air pollutants in a given location for a given year.

6 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report 2020 AIR QUALITY DID YOU KNOW You can find historical air quality monitoring MONITORING data online in the Air Data Warehouse? PROFILES www.alberta.ca/alberta-air-data-warehouse.aspx

Overall, the trends of criteria pollutants in monitored areas within Alberta demonstrate that air quality is either improving or has remained the same over the last decade.

A temperature inversion occurs when cold air becomes trapped under a layer of warm air that acts like a lid. During temperature inversions, pollutants are trapped at ground level where they can cause harm. The pollutants in the cooler, lower layer cannot be dispersed and the pollutants stay concentrated at ground level.3 In Alberta, these most frequently occur in the winter months and lead to the formation of wintertime smog.

Airsheds strive to achieve 100% operating time; however, station relocations, new equipment installations, or unexpected power outages are just a few factors that affect annual operating time.

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 7 PM2.5

FINE PARTICULATE MATTER

Fine particulate matter is less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. In comparison, a human hair is about 70 micrometres in diameter.

PM2.5 2020 PM 2.5 Levels in AB Combustion particles, Human Hair organic compounds, 50-70µm metals, etc. ACA (AEP) - Edmonton McCauley (microns) in diameter <2.5µm (microns) in diameter FAP - Gibbons AEP - Edmonton McIntyre_2 CRAZ - Calgary Central-Inglewood FAP - Bruderheim1 WBEA - Fort McKay-Bertha Ganter WCAS - Hinton ACA (AEP) - Edmonton East PM10 Dust, pollen, mold, etc. FAP - Fort Saskatchewan CRAZ - Calgary Southeast <10µm (microns) in diameter WCAS - Drayton Valley ACA (AEP) - St. Albert WBEA - Barge Landing ACA - Sherwood Park ACA (AEP) - Edmonton South AEP - Edmonton McIntyre_1 90µm (microns) in diameter FAP - Lamont County Fine Beach Sand AEP - Edmonton McIntyre_3 CRAZ - Calgary-Varsity WBEA - Fort McKay South WBEA - Fort McMurray-Athabasca Valley WCAS - Genesee PAMZ - Red Deer-Lancaster Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) AEP - Lethbridge WBEA - Janvier FAP - Redwater WBEA - Fort McMurray-Patricia McInnes PAS - Medicine Hat-Crescent Heights PAMZ - Red Deer-Riverside These fine particles are small enough PAZA - Grande Praire-Henry Pirker PAS - Medicine Hat Airpointer Trap Club WBEA - Fort Hills to get into the lungs and can be a WBEA - Conklin ACA - Ardrossan LICA - Bonnyville East station human health concern. PM2.5 may form FAP - Elk Island LICA - St. Lina in the atmosphere or be emitted by any AEP - Airdrie LICA - Cold Lake South ACA (AEP) - Edmonton Central combustion source including automobiles, WCAS - Power WBEA - Bualo Viewpoint PAMZ - Caroline industry and wood burning. Smoke from PRAMP - Cadotte Lake WBEA - Anzac PAZA - Smoky Heights forest fires and other types of biomass WCAS - Tomahawk WBEA - Wapasu WBEA - Stony Mountain burning can also be a major source. WBEA - Surmont 2 PAZA - Beaverlodge WBEA - Fort Chipewyan PAZA - Evergreen Park PM2.5 has been linked to many health WCAS - Steeper PAZA - Wembley issues. Long-term exposure has been WCAS - Edson 0 5 10 15 20 25 associated with increased lung and heart Annual Average PM2.5 + 95th percentile (μ g/m) problems and even premature death.4

8 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report PM2.5

2020 ALBERTA DATA AVERAGE PM2.5 PROFILE IN 2020

Of the 67 stations monitoring and

reporting PM2.5 data in 2020, 42 stations collected this data at least 75% of the total annual operating time.

Results from these stations show an

annual average range of PM2.5 levels of 1.9μg/m³ to 7.8μg/m³ in 2020. Based on these monitoring results, there were a total of 66 readings above the 1-hour (>80 μg/m³) AAAQG and 78 readings above the 24-hour (>29 μg/m³) AAAQO5 for a total of 144 exceedances (1hr+24 hr). In comparison, there were 1,298 exceedances (1hr+24hr) in 2019. Of important note, there were fewer wildfires experienced in 2020 than in 2019.

Issues of concern to Albertans include health risks related to wildfire smoke and the anticipated increase of grass/forest and seasonal fires. Most extreme

PM2.5 exceedances are attributed to wildfires with other exceedances related to wintertime temperature inversions, localized activities, vehicle emissions and smog.

“As Alberta’s leaders in air monitoring and reporting, Airsheds collaborate on innovative outreach initiatives and technical expertise through the Alberta Airsheds Council.” – AAC Co-Chairs Karla Reesor & Nadine Blaney

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 9 NO2

NITROGEN 2020 NO Levels in AB DIOXIDE (NO ) 2 CRAZ - Calgary Inglewood 2 ACA (AEP) - Edmonton Central ACA (AEP) - Edmonton McCauley CRAZ - Calgary Southeast Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish-brown gas ACA (AEP) - Edmonton East ACA (AEP) - St. Albert with a pungent irritating odour. It has ACA - Sherwood Park ACA (AEP) - Edmonton South PAMZ - Red Deer-Riverside been linked to respiratory disease and PAZA - Grande Praire-Henry Pirker CRAZ - Calgary-Varsity WBEA - Barge Landing contributes to acid rain. NO plays a WBEA - Fort Hills 2 PAMZ - Red Deer-Lancaster FAP - Fort Saskatchewan major role in atmospheric photochemical FAP - Ross Creek WCAS - Drayton Valley WBEA - Fort McKay-Bertha Ganter reactions and ground level ozone FAP - Range Road 220 ACA - Ardrossan WBEA - Athabasca Valley formation and destruction. FAP - Gibbons WCAS - Edson WBEA - Fort McKay South

WCAS - Hinton A n

PAS - Medicine Hat-Crescent Heights n The main contributors of the total NO2 u FAP - Bruderheim1 a l

WBEA - Patricia McInnes A l AEP - Airdrie b emissions generated in the province e r

FAP - Redwater t a

PAS - Medicine Hat Airporter Trap Club A are transportation, oil, gas and power WBEA - Bualo Viewpoint m b i

AEP - Lethbridge e n

6 FAP - Scotford South t

generation sources ; however, any WCAS - Carrot Creek A i r

PAZA - Beaverlodge Q

FAP - Lamont County u a l

combustion sources will emit NO (e.g., i 2 WCAS - Genesee t y

LICA - Maskwa O

LICA - Cold Lake South b j home and commercial heating). Some e PAZA - Wembley c t i

FAP - Elk Island v e ,

WBEA - Firebag natural sources include forest fires, 2 WCAS - Violet Grove 4 p

WCAS - Meadows p b lightning and biological decay. WBEA - Christina Lake LICA - Bonnyville East station WCAS - Tomahawk WCAS - Breton WCAS - Wagner2 Short-term exposure to NO2 can cause WBEA - Wapasu PAMZ - Caroline WBEA - Anzac airway inflammation. Individuals with WBEA - Mackay River LICA - St. Lina WCAS - Power pre-existing conditions such as asthma, WBEA - Conklin WBEA - Surmont 2 chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder WBEA - Jackﬁsh 2/3 WBEA - Kirby North WBEA - Stony Mountain (COPD) or chronic bronchitis can be WBEA - Janvier WCAS - Steeper more sensitive to exposure.7 PRAMP - Cadotte Lake AQHI 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Annual Average NO + 95th percentile (ppb)

10 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report NO2

2020 ALBERTA DATA AVERAGE NO2 PROFILE IN 2020

Of the 77 stations monitoring and reporting NO₂ data in 2020, 65 stations collected this data at least 75% of the total annual operating time.

Results from these 64 stations show an average annual range of NO₂ concentrations in 2020 from 0.8ppb to 14.8ppb, all below the AAAQO of 24ppb annual limit.

There was only one recorded exceedance of the 1-hour AAAQO (>159 ppb) for all of the NO₂ monitoring conducted in 2020.

Average NO₂ from the five monitoring stations reporting the highest averages in 2020 (all urban stations) have a slight decrease over the 2019 average, from 13.6ppb to 12.8ppb; however, the 95th percentile increased from 42.7ppb to 44.0ppb.

An urban area is defined as having a population of at least 1,000 and a density of 400 or more people per square kilometre. All territory outside an urban area is defined as a rural area.8

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 11 SO2

SULPHUR 2020 SO Levels in AB DIOXIDE (SO ) 2 2 WBEA - Christina Lake WBEA - Lower Camp Sulphur dioxide is generated both WBEA - Mannix WBEA - Mildred Lake ACA - Sherwood Park naturally and by human activities, WBEA - Bualo Viewpoint WBEA - Patricia McInnes WBEA - Wapasu including the processing and combustion WBEA - Firebag WBEA - Waskow ohci Pimatisiwin of fossil fuels. It is a colourless gas with a WBEA - Fort McKay South WBEA - Fort McKay-Bertha Ganter PAMZ - Caroline pungent odour (similar to a lit match). ACA (AEP) - St. Albert WBEA - Mackay River LICA - Maskwa FAP - Lamont County SO2 reacts in the atmosphere to form WCAS - Genesee WBEA - Barge Landing WBEA - Jackﬁsh 2/3 sulphuric acid and acidic aerosols, which FAP - Bruderheim1 FAP - Scotford South contribute to acid rain (SO accounts for ACA (AEP) - Edmonton East 2 WBEA - Fort Hills ACA - Ardrossan about 70% of total acid rain). It combines WCAS - Meadows A

WBEA - Athabasca Valley n n

WBEA - Kirby North u with other atmospheric gases to produce a l

WCAS - Hinton A l

WBEA - Anzac b e

fine particles, which may reduce visibility. WBEA - Surmont 2 r t WCAS - Wagner2 a

WBEA - Stony Mountain m

FAP - Ross Creek b i e Brief exposure to high concentrations of WCAS - Power n t

FAP - Elk Island A i r

PAZA - Smoky Heights Q

SO2 can produce human health effects, PAZA - Beaverlodge u a l

WCAS - Violet Grove i t y

FAP - Gibbons irritating the upper respiratory tract O

WBEA - Conklin b j PAZA - Wembley e c t

FAP - Fort Saskatchewan i and aggravating existing cardiac and v e

FAP - Redwater ,

9 WBEA - Janvier p

respiratory disease. p

PAMZ - Red Deer-Lancaster b PAZA - Grande Praire-Henry Pirker PAZA - Evergreen Park WCAS - Edson Long-term exposure may increase the WCAS - Tomahawk ACA (AEP) - Edmonton South risk of developing chronic respiratory CRAZ - Calgary Southeast WCAS - Steeper WCAS - Breton disease. People with asthma may have WBEA - Fort Chipewyan PAMZ - Red Deer-Riverside WCAS - Carrot Creek increased symptoms such as chest LICA - Bonnyville East station PAZA - Donnelly tightness and difficulty breathing. LICA - St. Lina LICA - Cold Lake South PRAMP - Reno PAS - Medicine Hat-Crescent Heights PAZA - Valleyview AEP - Lethbridge PRAMP - Three Creeks 842 PRAMP - Three Creeks 986 PRAMP - Cadotte Lake 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Annual Average SO + 95th percentile (ppb)

12 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report SO2

2020 ALBERTA DATA AVERAGE SO2 PROFILE IN 2020

Of the 78 stations monitoring and reporting SO₂ data in 2020, 68 stations collected this data at least 75% of the total annual operating time.

2020 results from these stations show the range of SO₂ concentrations from 0.0ppb to 2.8ppb. There was a total of four readings above the 1-hour (>172 ppb) AAAQO and one reading above the 24-hour (>48 ppb) AAAQO. There were no readings above the 30-day or annual objectives.

In comparison, there were no readings above the AAAQOs in 2019.

Interested parties in Drayton Valley area (West Central Airshed Society) were the first to organize a novel, multi-stakeholder approach to air quality monitoring – known as the Airshed model.

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 13 03

OZONE (O ) 3 2020 O Levels in AB Ozone in the upper atmosphere WCAS - Steeper protects life on earth by filtering the WBEA - Janvier AEP - Lethbridge WBEA - Patricia McInnes sun’s ultraviolet rays; however, O3 on the LICA - St. Lina WBEA - Stony Mountain ground is a pollutant and a component PAMZ - Caroline AEP - Airdrie of smog. During hot weather, emissions PAS - Medicine Hat-Crescent Heights WCAS - Genesee of chemicals from automobiles, industry WCAS - Violet Grove FAP - Bruderheim1 and other non-natural sources can LICA - Bonnyville East station WCAS - Breton produce high O levels through chemical FAP - Lamont County 3 WCAS - Tomahawk WBEA - Conklin reactions in the atmosphere. PAZA - Beaverlodge WBEA - Fort Chipewyan WBEA - Wapasu People most at risk from exposure to PAZA - Wembley CRAZ - Calgary-Varsity FAP - Redwater higher levels of O3 include those with WCAS - Drayton Valley asthma, children, older adults and those FAP - Elk Island WCAS - Carrot Creek who are active outdoors, especially ACA - Ardrossan LICA - Cold Lake South PAMZ - Red Deer-Lancaster outdoor workers. Children are at PAS - Medicine Hat Airporter Trap Club FAP - Gibbons greatest risk because their lungs ACA - Sherwood Park WBEA - Anzac 10 are still developing. FAP - Fort Saskatchewan WBEA - Bualo Viewpoint CRAZ - Calgary Southeast High levels of O can cause the muscles in PRAMP - Cadotte Lake 3 WCAS - Edson the airways to constrict, trapping air inside ACA (AEP) - St. Albert WCAS - Hinton ACA (AEP) - Edmonton South the tiny air sacks within the lungs (alveoli). PAMZ - Red Deer-Riverside ACA (AEP) - Edmonton McCauley This can lead to wheezing, shortness of PAZA - Grande Praire-Henry Pirker WBEA - Athabasca Valley breath and can be serious in people with CRAZ - Calgary Inglewood ACA (AEP) - Edmonton East 10 lung diseases such as asthma. ACA (AEP) - Edmonton Central WBEA - Fort McKay South WBEA - Fort McKay-Bertha Ganter

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Annual Average O + 95th percentile (ppb)

14 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report 03

2020 ALBERTA DATA AVERAGE O3 PROFILE IN 2020

Of the 57 stations monitoring and reporting O₃ data in 2020, 50 stations collected this data at least 75% of the total annual operating time.

Results from these stations show the range of O₃ concentrations in 2020 from 18.6ppb to 35.2ppb. There was a total of two readings above the 1-hour daily maximum (>76 ppb) AAAQO.

In comparison, there were 58 readings above the AAAQO in 2019.

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 15

AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH

Health Canada estimates that above-background air pollution, including air pollution from human sources in North America, contributes to 15,300 premature deaths per year in Canada.11

Data collected by Alberta’s Airsheds contributes to the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), a real-time air quality rating which is reported in over 35 Alberta communities and indicates potential health risks caused by air pollution.

The AQHI provides a rating to indicate the level of relative health risk associated with local air quality. The higher the number, the greater the health risk and the need to take precautions. Occasionally, during extreme pollution events such as a wildfire, AQHI levels may reach 10 or higher, indicating a very high health risk.

Low Moderate High Very Risk Risk Risk High Risk

In 1968, the first monitoring station with continuous analyzers was established in Edmonton on the 6th floor of the Federal Building by the provincial health department - prior to the formation of an environmental department in the province.

16 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report

2020 AQHI Ratings in Alberta

In Alberta, all monitoring stations saw low risk range of 90% to 100% of the 2020 year, with a provincial average AQHI reading of 2.0 (based on 311,770 hours of data).

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

CRAZ - Calgary ACA (AEP) - Edmonton ACA (AEP) - St. Albert FAP - Gibbons PAZA - Grande Praire FAP - Bruderheim FAP - Fort Saskatchewan WCAS - Drayton Valley ACA - Strathcona County PAMZ - Red Deer WCAS - Hinton FAP - Redwater AEP - Airdrie FAP - Lamont County AEP - Lethbridge FAP - Elk Island PAS - Medicine Hat WBEA - Fort McKay PAMZ - Caroline WCAS - Genesee PAZA - Beaverlodge WBEA - Fort McKay South LICA - St. Lina WCAS - Steeper WBEA - Fort McMuray LICA - Bonnyville WBEA - Fort Chipewyan WCAS - Tomahawk WBEA - Conklin PRAMP - Cadotte Lake WCAS - Edson LICA - Cold Lake PAZA - Wembley WBEA - Janvier WBEA - Anzac WBEA - Stony Mountain 85% 87% 89% 91% 93% 95% 97% 99% Low Risk Moderate Risk High Risk Very High Risk

Exposure to air pollution may result in a variety of health effects ranging from slight discomfort to increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, to increased risk of premature death. In particular, individuals with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, children and the elderly may notice symptoms due to poor air quality conditions. Individuals should monitor their symptoms and take precautions recommended by their physicians.12

Download the free AQHI app on your mobile device

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 17 WORKING TOGETHER FOR CLEAN AIR

ALBERTA’S AIRSHEDS ARE VITAL CONTRIBUTORS TO MANAGING AIR QUALITY.

Alberta Airsheds Council (AAC) is a partnership of Alberta’s Airsheds and provides leadership in support of healthy air quality for Albertans and the environment.

The efforts of each of Alberta’s Airsheds ensures valuable community oversight and involvement in our collective goal of clean air.

Resources, including links to each of Alberta’s Airsheds, can be found at: AlbertaAirshedsCouncil.ca.

For information on local air quality monitoring and programs in your community, contact your regional Airshed.

PEACE RIVER AREA MONITORING PROGRAM

AlbertaAirshedsCouncil.ca | @albertaairsheds

18 Alberta Airsheds 2020 Air Quality Report REFERENCES

1 https://scijinks.gov/air-quality/

2 https://www.alberta.ca/air-monitoring-directive.aspx

3 https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/issues/smog-causes- effects/winter.html

4 https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/eccc/documents/pdf/aqhi/20181205-03.pdf

5 https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/0d2ad470-117e-410f-ba4f-aa352cb02d4d/resource/97d1afdf-b66b- 4805-be41-a5a3f589c988/download/aaqo-summary-jun29-2017.pdf

6 https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/air- pollutant-emissions.html#NOx

7 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/human-health-risk- assessment-ambient-nitrogen-dioxide.html

8 https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/subjects/standard/pcrac/2016/introduction

9 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/human-health-risk- assessment-sulphur-dioxide-executive-summary.html

10 https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/health-effects-ozone-pollution

11 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/2021-health-effects- indoor-air-pollution.html

12 Alberta Health – Be Air Aware (https://bit.ly/3crT09S)

2020 Air Quality Report Alberta Airsheds 19 Contact Us AlbertaAirshedsCouncil.ca