By Kate Bouey

City looks into causes of road dust advisories

Feb 26, 2020 | 11:46 AM

It’s down to the nitty gritty and it’s causing air quality advisories in Vernon.

City Coun. Scott Anderson said he is concerned by the level of fine particulate matter found in local air when Environment Canada issued advisories earlier this month.

“We sit in the middle of B.C. in terms of overall air quality but in terms of fine particulates, we’re in the top three locations that are measured,” Anderson told council.

While he acknowledged weather and geographical location play a part, Anderson pointed the finger at the road grit left on the road to fight icy conditions.

“When the second advisory this month started, the measurement of particulate in Kelowna was 19.4 and the measurement the same day was 72.2 in Vernon,” Anderson said. “I’m a little concerned about the road grit we’re using.”

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A city staffer told council the road traction material being used in Vernon has actually been tested to that used by surrounding communities and it came out on top.

However he said staff were “investigating all aspects,” and that a meeting with a senior meteorologist had been arranged.

“I was encouraged to hear the operations department is on it,” Anderson told Vernon Matters. “They’re not just sloughing it off. It is a serious concern with the numbers of seniors we have.”

by Kate Bouey

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