haze hanging over duncan prompts air quality advisory - home air cleaner

Over the weekend, the provincial Ministry of Environmental and island health released air quality consultations and open combustion restrictions that lasted until this week, as smog was shrouded in the coicahn Valley.
People with chronic illnesses were told that if they were within 15 kilometers of Duncan Town Hall, they would delay strenuous exercise and stay indoors.
"Exposure is particularly worrying for infants, the elderly and people with diabetes, lungs, or heart disease," the press release said . ".
As of 8 a, the average concentration of fine particles in 24 hours was 31 micrograms per cubic meter. m.
On Monday morning, the provincial target was 25 micrograms.
Pollution comes from wood smoke, commercial and industrial activities, as well as cars and marine vehicles.
"There are many different sources of fine particulate matter," said Earle Plain, air quality meteorologist at the Ministry of Environment.
The problem arises in the winter, when everyone increases usage in order to cope with cold weather, whether it is a longer idling of the car or having to use more fuel during industrial production.
"All this adds up," he said . "
It wasn't until a few years ago that the Cowichan Valley received air quality warnings, but it's not necessarily because the pollution is getting worse and worse, but because there are monitoring stations now to measure it.
"The wood smoke concentration is expected to be higher at night, night and early morning and will improve during the day," the press release said . ".
High-risk groups, including infants and the elderly, are advised to avoid areas with wood smoke, stay indoors with doors and windows closed, and run air purifiers.
People can also take refuge in air-conditioned buildings with limited access to outdoor air.
In order to reduce things in the air, the exemption from the open-air combustion smoke regulations that allow open-air combustion of debris has been suspended, which means that under the threat of fines, new fires cannot be started, nor can more materials be added to existing fires.
Unless individuals are the only source of heat at home, they are asked to do their part to avoid using fireplaces and stoves.
If they are the only source of heat, people are required to use only CSA/EPA emissions approved Wood
Burn electrical appliances and cured wood.
People were also asked to avoid backyard burning and idling.
Bad air quality is expected to continue until the weather changes.