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By Corey Fischer

Update: Air Quality Improves

Jan 5, 2018 | 12:39 PM

An air quality advisory issued for Vernon lasted a total of 24 hours.

The Ministry of Environment lifted the advisory at 12:30 today, saying “fine particulate concentrations have been decreasing, and are currently below
advisory levels.”

“Latest PM2.5 measurements at the Vernon Science Centre station indicate an hourly average of 15.3 micrograms per cubic metre. The average for the
past 24 hours is 20.5 micrograms per cubic metre, which is less than the provincial air quality objective of 25 micrograms per cubic metre,” says meteorologist Tarek Ayache.

Wood smoke and emissions from vehicles and industry were causes of the reduced air quality.

• Real-time air quality information from Vernon and other B.C. communities can be found
at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air.

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Jan. 4 story

Vernon is starting off the new year with bad air quality.

The Ministry of Environment has issued an air quality advisory for the city due to high concentrations of fine particulates such as wood smoke, nd emissions from vehicles and industry.

The ministry says the conditions will continue until there is a change on the current weather, specifically precipitation.

People with health conditions are advised to put off strenuous outdoor exercise until the advisory is lifted.

Staying indoors and in air-conditioned spaces helps to reduce fine-particulate exposure.

by Corey Fischer

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