The dust advisory for Quesnel continues this week, after the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in collaboration with Northern Health issued an advisory April 24.
High concentrations of dust are expected to persist until there is precipitation or dust suppression. Dust concentrations tend to be highest around busy roads and industrial operations. This advisory is in effect until further notice.
Exposure to dust is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have diabetes, and lung or heart disease. Persons with chronic underlying medical conditions should postpone strenuous exercise near busy roads until the advisory is lifted. If you are experiencing symptoms such as continuing eye or throat irritation, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, cough or wheezing, follow the advice of your health care provider.
Real-time air quality information from Quesnel and other B.C. communities can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air
Tips to reduce your personal health risk:
• Avoid roads with heavy vehicle traffic.
• Use common sense regarding outdoor physical activity; if your breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop or reduce the activity.
• Maintaining good overall health is a good way to prevent health effects resulting from short-term exposure to air pollution.
• People with heart or lung conditions may be more sensitive to the effects of poor air quality and should watch for any change in symptoms that may be due to poor air quality exposure. Continue to control medical conditions such as asthma, hay fever, and chronic respiratory disease. If symptoms continue to be bothersome, seek medical attention.
• Keep windows and doors closed, and reduce indoor sources of pollution such as smoking and vacuuming.
• Run an air cleaner. Some room air cleaners, such as HEPA filters, can help reduce indoor concentrations of particulate matter provided the filters are the right size for your home and are kept clean.
• Buildings which have large indoor volumes of filtered outside air may provide temporary relief for those with respiratory and cardiac issues.
• The current dusty conditions are caused by road traffic stirring up winter traction materials that have accumulated on roadways over the past winter.
• Dusty conditions are expected to continue until road cleanup is complete or there is a change in the weather.
• Note that 24-hour average PM2.5 concentrations are currently below the provincial objective in Quesnel but are expected to increase and exceed the objective.
