Year: 2016

YTD Results Show Local Air Quality Good Most of the Time

Posted on November 9, 2016

Third quarter Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) results show air quality in and around Alberta’s Industrial Heartland has been generally good so far in 2016.

Five of FAP’s air monitoring stations collects data that is used by the Government of Alberta in the calculation of a daily AQHI. From January 1 to September 30, the index at those stations registered low risk readings the vast majority of the time. Bruderheim had the highest percentage of low risk readings and Fort Saskatchewan had the least. However all stations were in the low risk category more than 92% of the time.

Only two stations, Gibbons and Fort Saskatchewan, had AQHI readings in the high risk category so far this year, but just for 21 hours. The Fort Saskatchewan station had a very high risk reading for three hours. FAP Executive Director Nadine Blaney explained that the high risk numbers and some of the moderate risk index results were caused by forest fire smoke coming from Fort McMurray and elsewhere earlier in the year. This impacted air quality throughout the entire Capital Region and other areas of the province.

3rd-table-results

Gibbons Air Monitoring Results Indicate Low Risk

Posted on October 4, 2016

Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) numbers from Fort Air Partnership’s new air monitoring station located in the heart of Gibbons show that local air quality is a low risk to health the majority of time.

Of the 2,856 hours of monitoring done since the end of May, AQHI readings at Gibbons were in the low risk category 99.16% (2,832 hours) of the time and only 0.84% (24 hours) of the time in the moderate risk category.

According to the Alberta government, moderate risk means those with respiratory concerns should consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if they are experiencing symptoms. It’s recommended that the general population continue with normal outdoor activities unless a person is experiencing symptoms such as a cough or throat irritation.

More information regarding the performance of the Gibbons station will be presented at the Heartland Community Information Evening being held on October 20 at the Gibbons Cultural Centre.