This network was developed in response to the community concerns about air quality and the desire for more affordable means of neighbourhood-level data. The network was designed with significant input and decision-making from the Cowichan Airshed Protection Roundtable.

Our network measures air quality at additional locations throughout the region. However, our monitors are different from government monitors and cannot be used to assess if air pollution levels are within legal limits. But they provide other important information. For example, community members can find out current air quality at a specific location and can take the necessary actions to protect health. Air quality data from PurpleAir monitors can also be used to understand general trends in air quality and in localized areas where the provincial monitors do not reach.

¹Accuracy refers to how close the measured concentration is to the actual conditions

²Precision refers to how close repeated measurements are to each other under unchanged conditions

The AQI is used to communicate how clean or polluted the air is. Different jurisdictions have developed their own air quality guides based on their own objectives, standards, and policies. The AQI used by PurpleAir is based on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s AQI.

Limitation of Purple Air’s AQI

The AQI displayed on the PurpleAir map does not correctly apply the US EPA AQI. The US EPA AQI for PM_2.5 is based on the 24-hour average PM_2.5 concentration, which is the average of all PM_2.5 concentrations measured at a station over the previous 24-hours. In contrast, the AQI presented on the PurpleAir map is based on the current or real-time PM_2.5 concentration. While the AQI presented on the map is a useful snap-shot of the current air quality conditions at the location of a PurpleAir monitor, it is not necessarily a good indicator of potential health risks. There is currently not enough information on what exposure to PM_2.5 for very short periods (such as 20 seconds or even 10 minutes) could mean for our health.

Size:             PM_2.5 refers to microscopic particles in air with a diameter (or width) of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. This is more than ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Sources:     PM_2.5 can come from both natural and human caused sources. The two main human caused sources are the burning of wood and fossil fuels.

Impacts:     PM_2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs where they have the potential to cause respiratory and cardiac problems.

Short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) pollution can most strongly affect people with heart or lung diseases, people with other serious health issues, and pregnant women.

If you have a lung disease, such as asthma: Being exposed to PM pollution for short periods of time, such as hours or a few days, can make lung disease worse, cause asthma attacks, cause bronchitis, and make it easier to get respiratory infections. If PM levels are high:

• You may not be able to breathe as deeply or strongly as normal
• You may cough more, have chest pain, wheeze, feel like you can’t catch your breath, and be tired more than usual
• Follow your asthma management plan if you have asthma

If you have heart disease: Being exposed to PM pollution for short periods of time, such as hours or a few days, can cause irregular heartbeat or heart attacks. If PM levels are high:

• Serious problems, such as heart attack, can happen in a short period of time without any warning signs. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately.
• Symptoms like chest pain or tightness, fast heartbeat, feeling out of breath, and feeling tired more than usual may be signs of a serious problem. If you have any of these symptoms, follow your doctor’s advice and contact your doctor if they last longer than usual or get worse.

If you are pregnant: Short-term exposure to PM among pregnant women has been associated with giving birth too early and having babies that are too small. Pregnant women should try to reduce exposure to high levels of PM as much as possible.

Short term exposure to PM has also been linked with premature death, usually in people who already have a serious health problem like lung or heart disease. Healthy children and adults usually do not have serious problems from short-term exposure to PM. They may have minor problems, like a scratchy throat or scratchy eyes when PM levels are elevated.

Long-term particulate matter (PM) exposure has been associated with heart and lung problems. Being exposed to PM pollution for more than a year is linked to problems like:

• Breathing problems
• Reduced lung function
• Chronic bronchitis
• Heart disease
• Lung cancer

These problems may lead to more hospital stays, more emergency department visits, and even premature death. Sensitive people such as older adults, people with diseases like asthma or congestive heart disease, and children are more likely to be affected by contact with PM.

Be aware of the air quality around you and take appropriate action when levels of pollution are unhealthy. We recommend that you check the regional air quality and sign up for alerts from the government regulatory air monitoring network, as this will provide different information.

When particulate matter (PM) levels in the air are very high, everyone can reduce their exposure by spending less time outdoors and reducing physical activity levels (e.g. walking instead of running) You can also plan your daily activities to reduce exposure to PM. For example, exercise away from roads, highways, or other sources of PM, especially if you are in a group at high risk of having health problems from PM pollution.

Particulate matter (PM) comes from a variety of sources:

• Motor vehicles
• Dust from construction, landfills, and agriculture
• Wildfires and brush/waste burning
• Industrial sources
• Wood burning stoves and fireplaces

In the CVRD, PM_2.5 sources of concern include vehicle traffic along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, dust from unpaved roads, and smoke from woodstove and open burning from residential, commercial, and agricultural operators. Specifically, home heating with wood (23%) and open burning (53%) contribute to 76% of the CVRD’s total PM_2.5 emission levels.