Outdoor air quality

Outdoor air pollution can come in many different forms. In addition to regional sources of air pollution, there can be sources in your neighbourhood that can affect your local air quality. Whether at home, work, commuting, or in other outdoor spaces, being aware of the factors that can affect outdoor air quality and collectively taking actions to reduce air pollution can protect everyone’s health. 

Some of the common health-harming air pollutants and sources in our region include:

• Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) 
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Sources: older diesel engines, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, wildfires, heavy-duty equipment, industry, and traffic 
  • Course particulate matter (PM10-2.5) Sources: dust from construction and agriculture, wildfires and wood burning, wind-blown dust, pollen and fragments of bacteria. 
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 
  • Sources: traffic, heavy-duty equipment, building heating that burns fuels, industry 
• Ground-level ozone (O3) 
  • Sources: formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react with each other on hot, sunny days.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC). 
  • Sources: paints and chemicals, gasoline vapours, vehicle exhaust, trees and vegetation

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a tool designed to help people understand how to protect themselves when our regional outdoor air quality is poor. The AQHI uses a scale to illustrate the health risk associated with air quality and recommended actions. 

• View the latest information on the AQHI across the province on the BC Air Quality Index map
• Find the latest forecast AQHI values and forecasts for BC on Air Quality Health Index – BC Air Quality 
• During wildfire smoke events the ECCC low-cost sensor map can also be helpful, especially for smaller communities that do not have government air quality monitoring stations. 

There are two authorities that issue air quality advisories within Vancouver Coastal Health:

• Metro Vancouver (Vancouver, Richmond, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Bowen Island and Lions Bay) and 
• the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (the rest of British Columbia).

Most often in our region, air quality advisories are issued for wildfire smoke (PM2.5), but an advisory can also be issued for elevated ground level ozone. 

Within Metro Vancouver an Air Quality Advisory may be issued when:

• air quality deteriorates or is expected to deteriorate;
• air pollution approaches or exceeds guidelines; or
• poor air quality is expected to continue or worsen

The Smoky Skies Bulletin is issued by BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy to communicate the rapidly changing nature of wildfire smoke.

Find specific guidance for what to do during a wildfire smoke episode .

Outdoor air quality concerns or complaints can be directed to Metro Vancouver or the Ministry of Environment, depending on your location.

• Visit Metro Vancouver’s make an air quality complaint page. 
• For outdoor air quality complaints outside of Metro Vancouver, visit Contact B.C. Air Quality.