Environmental Quality Branch

PARTICULATES

1. Fine Particulates: General Information

Residential Wood Burning in British Columbia:
Public Behaviour and Opinion
May 2006

Residential wood heating is a significant source of fine particulate emissions in British Columbia. In 2003, the ministry commissioned a survey of residential wood-heating practices. The data was used to produce Residential Wood Burning Emissions in British Columbia. This 2006 report further analyzes the data to determine public behaviour and opinion with respect to wood burning for home heating.
(578 KB / 48 pages)

Firesmoke (UBC)
This site provides comprehensive information on B.C. forest fires, smoke-related air quality and its effects on human health. Visitors can view fire and air-quality status through interactive maps, and can find out what they can to reduce their smoke exposure. The Ministry of Environment contributes information to this site.

Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers (Washington State Department of Ecology)
Outdoor wood-fired boilers cause thick smoke and have very short smoke stacks. As a result, the smoke tends to linger in the surrounding neighbourhood, endangering people's health. These boilers have been banned in the State of Washington. Visit this site for more information.

Environmental indicators (trends) are measuring sticks that track the results achieved by governments, industries and individuals to protect and improve the environment. B.C.'s PM_2.5 indicators are on this website, along with a host of other air quality information.

Backyard Burning: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes...and Lungs!
February 2002

This fact sheet explains why backyard burning is a backwards step in the fight against air pollution, and a waste of a valuable resource.

Fine Particulates, What They Are and How They Affect Us
February 2002

The Provincial Health Officer has identified fine particulates as the most serious form of air pollution in B.C., when it comes to direct impacts on people's health. This document explains what fine particulates are, their sources and impacts, and how we can control this form of pollution.

Reducing Wood Stove Smoke: A Burning Issue
February 2002

Inefficient wood stoves and improper burning can result in a lot of smoke pouring out the chimney and into your neighbourhood. Find out how to reduce wood stove smoke by choosing a low-emission stove, and using it correctly so that smoke is kept to a minimum.

Where There's Fire, There's Smoke: Reducing Smoke in British Columbia
February 2002

This brochure provides a thorough summary of the sources and impacts of smoke in British Columbia. It describes what the B.C. Government is doing to reduce smoke and suggests ways we can reduce smoke at home.

Clean Air Fact Sheets (Environment Canada)
April 2004

These fact sheets cover a range of clean air topics related to particulates:

• The Clean Air Picture
• The ABCs of Air Pollution in the Lower Fraser Valley
• Fraser Valley Smog: an indicator of potential air quality health risk

K. Wong, MoE

2. Health Effects

Health Effects of Inhalable Particles: Implications for British Columbia (Overview and Conclusions)
June 1995

Here are the research paper and summary by Dr. Sverre Vedal of the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, which were done for the Ministry of Environment (called the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks when this report was carried out). The paper reviews the health effects of inhalable particles (particulates) and then estimates the impacts they have on the health of British Columbians.

3. Smoke and Particulate Control

Emissions from Wood-Fired Combustion Equipment

This report will be the ministry's basis for proposing emission-standard guidelines for electricity-generation projects that are powered by wood (biomass) combustion. The guidelines are being created in anticipation of BC Hydro's call for new biomass-fired power projects.

Proposed Changes to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation: Intentions Paper and Consultation Process
May 2008

The Ministry of Environment is reviewing and revising the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (under the Environmental Management Act) through a public consultation process. This website provides the policy intentions paper that describes the proposed revisions to the regulation. The site also enables people to review and comment on the intentions paper.

Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation
PDF (270 KB / 17 pages)

This provides an overview of B.C.'s progress towards meeting the Canada-wide Standards (CWS) for particulate matter (PM) and ozone by 2010. It includes a summary of PM and ozone data up to and including 2005, and describes activities underway in support of CWS achievement. It was released in conjunction with the national document, below. (See also Background Concentrations of PM_2.5 and Ozone in British Columbia, Canada.)
(251 KB / 17 pages)

Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone: Five Year Report: 2000-2005 (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment)
November 2006

This is an interim report on progress across the country towards meeting the Canada-wide Standards for particulate matter and ozone. British Columbia's report, above, is linked with the CCME report.
(17 pages)

Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment)
July 2000

The Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone were passed in June 2000. They are an important step towards minimizing the risk that PM and ozone pose to human health and the environment.

Is it legal and environmentally safe to open burn in your area? Dial the Ventilation Index toll-free number to find out.
Updated Nov. 2006

The Ministry of Environment has set up a central, toll-free number for all parts of the province: 1-888-281-2992. It provides the Ventilation Index forecast and an air quality report for each region. It also explains whether or not it is safe to burn, and where you need to go for burning approvals. You can also find the Ventilation Index at Environment Canada's WeatherOffice website.

Clean Air Toolkit: A Guide for Cleaner Air

The Clean Air Toolkit is designed to help local government develop programs to reduce emissions (including smoke). It's a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, BC Transit and Environment Canada.

B.C. Memorandum of Understanding with BC West Coast Products LLC re. Proposed Natural-Gas-Fired Cogeneration Project at Cherry Point, Washington
December 2003

The government of British Columbia has entered into an agreement with BP West Coast Products LLC (BP). The agreement will reduce smog-causing emissions in the Lower Fraser Valley airshed from the BP Cherry Point refinery near Blaine, Washington. The province withdrew its intervention in the Washington Energy Site Evaluation Council's adjudicary proceedings on December 2, 2003, thereby confirming this MOU.
(28 KB / 3 pages)

Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation
April 1993, amended 1998, 2000

Open burning — the large outdoor fires usually set for land-clearing, construction or forestry operations — is a major source of smoke. The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (B.C. Reg. 145/93) is meant to encourage the reduction and reuse of vegetative debris from these operations, whenever possible. The goal is cleaner air, a healthier environment and lower health costs for all of us.

Note: The Ministry of Environment is reviewing and revising this regulation through public consultation. See Proposed Changes to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation: Intentions Paper and Consultation Process.

A Guide to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation
Updated July 2002

This is a general guide to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (now undergoing review and revision). It also includes regional "hotlines" for the Venting Index, to help you find out if it's environmentally safe to burn in your area. This guide will help you determine if the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation applies to the burn you are planning, and describes the main regulatory limits on burning.

Air Monitoring Guidelines: Volume 1 Particulate Noncontinuous
March 1996

These guidelines, prepared by the Ministry of Environment, are meant to ensure that all atmospheric data collected by permit holders and the ministry are scientifically acceptable and consistent throughout British Columbia.

Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation
August 1994

The Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation specifies particulate emission limits, and labeling and testing requirements, for new solid fuel (wood) stoves, fireplace inserts and factory-built fireplaces manufactured after November 1, 1994.

Renewable Energy: A Guide to Residential Wood Heating
2002 (Natural Resources Canada report)

The keys to effective and safe wood-burning systems are good planning, careful installation and proper operation. This report shows you how to burn efficiently, and keep the air clean for you and your neighbours.
(890 KB / 63 pages)

Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation
January 1995

Under this regulation, wood residue (beehive and silo) burners in populated areas are to be shut down by a phaseout schedule. Eliminating these inefficient burners, which frequently cast palls of smoke over many valleys, will lead to cleaner air in many regions.

Model Municipal Bylaw for Regulating Backyard Burning
December 1997

The Ministry of Environment has produced a model bylaw that outlines the minimum standards municipalities may wish to consider when enacting bylaws for open burning and (barrel/box) incineration.
(131 KB / 18 pages)

Model Municipal Bylaw for Regulating Wood Burning Appliances (Environment Canada)
2006

This model bylaw is for municipalities wishing to make a bylaw to regulate wood-burning appliances. It was developed by Environment Canada in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Working Group on Residential Wood Combustion.
(51 pages)

4. Emissions Inventories / Data Summaries / Air Quality Reports

Background Concentrations of PM_2.5 and Ozone in British Columbia, Canada
March 2006

This report describes preliminary estimates of background particulate matter (PM) and ozone levels, based on a review of current literature and available monitoring data. It also provides recommendations on how refined estimates of background levels may be better determined.
(437 KB / 27 pages)

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Report, Nelson, British Columbia: Particulate Matter — 1991 to 2005
August 2006

This is one in a series of air quality reports being issued by the Kootenay Regional Office for all communities in the region where air quality is monitored. More air quality information — for the Kootenay region and other regions — can be found on the Air Protection site.
(78 pages)

Residential Wood Burning Emissions in British
Columbia
April 2004; Revised May 2005

Fine particulates (particulate matter) are now considered the most serious kind of air pollution problem in B.C., with respect to human health. One of the largest cumulative sources of fine particulates is believed to be residential wood burning. This report estimates the quantity of air emissions released as a result of residential wood heating in the province.
(421 KB / 43 pages)

An Air Emissions Inventory for Golden, British Columbia
February 2006

This inventory identifies the potential sources of air pollutants generated in the Golden airshed, based on theoretical estimates. The information is a prerequisite for the detailed source apportionment study the ministry is conducting in Golden. For more information on the Golden study, see Source Apportionment Studies, below.
(1 MB / 39 pages)

Particulate Matter in British Columbia: A Report on PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 Mass Concentrations up to 2000
May 2003

This report summarizes ambient concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in British Columbia, in an effort to guide the implementation of the Canada-wide Standard (CWS) for particulate matter. It was co-produced by the Ministry of Environment (then the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection); and Environment Canada, Pacific and Yukon Region.

Report in HTML Rapport français (Environnement Canada) PDF Version (7.7 MB / 143 pages) Note: This is a large report. If you have printing difficulties, print it out in sections (e.g., 1-20, 21-30, etc.).

Air Quality Report for British Columbia: Fine Particulate (PM₁₀) Levels (1990-1995)

The Ministry of Environment has monitored PM₁₀ levels at almost 100 sites in British Columbia since the mid-1980s. This report is the first overview of PM₁₀ levels measured in various communities across the province. Fine particulates (PM₁₀ and smaller) are considered the most important outdoor air pollutant in British Columbia today.

5. Source Apportionment Studies

Golden Source Apportionment Study: Quality Assurance Project Plan
March 2005

The purpose of this document is to provide a quality assurance / quality control framework for the Golden source apportionment study, from 2004 to 2006. Quality assurance (QA) for a field program such as the Golden speciation study integrates quality control (QC), audits and measurement validation.
(683 KB / 30 pages)

Speciation Monitoring and Source Apportionment in Golden, B.C. (2004 04 – 2007): Poster Summary

This two-year study is being carried out in Golden B.C. to identify the sources of air pollutants and their relative contributions to air pollution in the region. "Source apportionment" is the process of identifying where each pollutant comes from (e.g., motor vehicles, industries) and finding out how much is being released into the air. (See above for an initial inventory: An Air Emissions Inventory for Golden.)
(1 page)