Air Quality

Environmental health officers can help you find information about indoor and outdoor air quality.

Indoor air quality

Poor indoor air quality may be a symptom of another problem such as mould caused by water intrusion or poor ventilation within a home. Our office does not test for specific airborne contaminants. 

Air quality issues related to places of employment are addressed by WorksafeBC.

Radon gas   

Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is a naturally occurring gas found in the ground throughout the world. Most homes that are in contact with the ground will contain some amount of radon gas.

Outdoor air quality

Outdoor air quality issues are regulated by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the BC Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health makes recommendations on standards, objectives and regulations on outdoor air quality affecting human health. The Ministry of Environment monitors air pollution through approval processes, permits, regulation, guidelines and codes of practice.

There are a number of things you can do to help improve air quality:

• Avoid idling for more than 10 seconds. Keep your vehicle tuned and running efficiently.
• Drive less. Try taking the bus, carpool, walk or cycle.
• When buying a new car, choose a fuel-efficient one (e.g. a hybrid). Choose a smaller car, if possible.
• Avoid using gas-powered tools, such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers and trimmers. Use push mowers, electric mowers and even modern gas powered models, if possible.
• If you heat using a woodstove, use the latest emission reduction technologies. Always use dry seasoned wood, cut it into small pieces and keep your stove and chimney clean and in good working order. Upgrade your woodstove to an efficient, low emissions model.
• Avoid burning prunings and garden waste – compost them instead.
• If you must burn, wait for a good venting Index (close to 100).
• Plant a tree.
• If you think you may be affected by poor air quality, contact your physician for advice.
   

• Air quality advisories
• B.C. Air Quality
• Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality
• Health Canada: Air Quality
• Health Canada: Radon
• Residential Wood Smoke (Urban Systems/Health Canada)
• Burnwise - Wood Smoke and Your Health (US EPA)

HealthLinkBC files:

• Indoor air quality
• Indoor air quality: Combustion by-products
• Indoor air quality: Mold and other biological contaminants
• Indoor air quality: Volatile organic compounds
• Outdoor air quality: Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
• Particulate matter air pollution
• Radon gas in homes and other dwellings