Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Report, Whistler BC: PM10 and Ozone 1997 - 2001
The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (now Ministry of Environment) has been monitoring PM10 and ground-level ozone in Whistler, BC since 1997 and 2001, respectively. PM10 is particulate matter under 10 micrometres (µg) in diameter. It occurs both naturally and anthropogenically (i.e. caused by humans). Natural sources include wind-blown soil, pollen, spores and marine aerosols. Anthropogenic sources include industrial processing, transportation, and wood smoke from home heating.
PM10 has been identified as the most important ambient air pollutant in British Columbia. Studies suggest an association between increased ambient PM10 concentrations and a greater incidence of lung and heart disease (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema), as well as increased mortality (deaths). For more information on PM10 visit our Fine Particulates website.
Ozone is a colourless, reactive gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. In the upper atmosphere, (stratosphere) ozone is critical to life on earth, as it protects biological systems from the damaging wavelengths of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. However, the physical and chemical properties that make ozone a critical component of the upper atmosphere are undesirable in high concentrations at ground level.
Elevated ground-level ozone concentrations can harm human health, vegetation, and property. Health impacts associated with ozone include irritation of the respiratory tract, aggravation of existing respiratory conditions (i.e. asthma, bronchitis, emphysema), and eye irritation. A threshold ozone concentration for which impacts to human health do not occur has not been identified and studies indicate a continuum of effects through all ambient levels of ozone. More information on ground-level ozone is available in Air Quality Report for British Columbia: Ground-Level Ozone Concentrations (1986-97) and at our Vehicle Emissions website.
PM10 sampling began on August 02, 1997. A Sierra-Anderson HiVol PM10 sampler was set up on the roof of the Meadow Park Sports Centre (8107 Camino Drive) in Whistler, BC. The Meadow Park Sports Centre location was chosen because it allows for representative ambient air samples to be obtained, while providing a secure location required for a long-term monitoring program.
The PM10 sampler is operated according to the National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) network six-day sampling cycle (i.e., sampling every sixth day). The NAPS six-day cycle allows for each day of the week to be equally sampled over the duration of a long-term monitoring program. On the designated sample date, the HiVol sampler runs continuously for 24 hours (midnight to midnight).
Sample results were compared to the Federal / Provincial Working Group 24-hour PM10 Reference Level of 25µg/m3, and the Provincial Ambient Air Quality 24-hour PM10 Objective of 50µg/m3. Between August 1997 and December 2001, 137 PM10 samples were collected between August 1997 and December 2001. Eleven (11) of the 137 samples (about 8 percent of samples) exceeded the Provincial Ambient Air Quality PM10 Level A Objective, with 1 of these samples exceeding the Level B Objective.
Objective exceedances were only recorded in the 1999 and 2000 sample years. However, this does not necessarily indicate these years experienced elevated levels of ambient PM10 compared to other sample years; rather, it is more a reflection of the larger number of samples collected in these years.
On April 24, 2001, the ministry expanded ambient air quality sampling in Whistler and commenced ground-level ozone sampling. For Whistler ozone sampling, a TECO Model 49 UV Photometric Ozone Analyzer was setup at the Meadow Park Sports Centre. The analyzer and datalogger were installed in the facility maintenance room, with the sampler air intake located on the roof of the building.
The Meadow Park Sports Centre location was chosen because it allows for representative ambient air samples to be obtained while providing a secure location needed for a long-term monitoring program. The TECO Model 49 analyzer operates continuously (i.e. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) and samples air at a rate of approximately 0.001 m3/min (1.0 Litre per minute). The analyzer reports the ozone concentration in parts per billion (ppb).
Sampling data from the ozone analyzer is stored on a datalogger and transferred to the provincial monitoring network database in Victoria, BC (via modem). Sampling data is reviewed and validated before being archived to the provincial database. Archived data are reported in micrograms per cubic metre (mg/m3). Between April and December 2001, 5776 hours of sampling data were obtained. The Federal 1-hour "Maximum Desirable" Ozone Objective was exceeded 55 times (approximately 1 percent of the sampling period) over 12 days in May, June, July and August.
PM10 and ozone sampling to date indicates the Whistler area does not experience poor air quality relative to other areas of the province. However, the data clearly indicates that PM10 and ozone occur at levels associated with negative health effects. The area continues to grow rapidly, which increases the potential for impacts to air quality — through activities such as land clearing, construction, home heating, commercial/industrial activity, transportation, etc. Reductions in air quality increases the risk of harm to human health and the environment, which, in turn, may affect the recreational and tourism-based economy of the region
The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Report, Whistler BC is available here
(PDF/368KB/23 pages).
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