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CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
Revamp of Manitoba's air quality monitoring infrastructure needed for 'smokier future,' says expert
Social Sharing Manitoba is looking to expand the infrastructure it has to monitor air quality, a step experts say is important to better map pollution and its long-term health effects worsened by smoke billowing from wildfires. "This isn't a problem that's going away," said Christopher Pascoe, a University of Manitoba associate professor whose research focuses on the impact of wildfire smoke on chronic respiratory diseases. Thousands of people have been forced out of their homes by wildfires in Manitoba since May. It has been a record-breaking season where the province has been put under a state of emergency twice to address the influx of people fleeing from their home — some from worsening air quality. Manitoba operates four air quality monitoring stations — two in Winnipeg, one each in Brandon and Flin Flon — that collect the dirt out of the air and measure the concentration of health-harming particles lingering in the environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada said it draws data from those stations to forecast air quality. The department also pulls in information about contaminants in the air from low-cost sensors that have been installed independently by residents and communities through the province. But Sarah Henderson, a scientific director of environmental health services at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, said there's an opportunity to better map pollution drifting from wildfire in the long-term by expanding the infrastructure Manitoba has to monitor air quality. "Wildfires are highly episodic, highly unpredictable," Henderson said. "Four monitors doesn't tell the full story of what's going on when you're having wildfire smoke impacts." Most of the infrastructure Environment Canada uses to forecast air quality in Manitoba is clustered in the southern part of the province. According to an independently created map, which Environment Canada said shows the monitors meteorologists use to forecast air quality, there are roughly 10 stations or sensors north of Dauphin, Man., a city about 250 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. And all but at least two of these stations in northern Manitoba are in Flin Flon,Thompson and Churchill. In remote or fly-in communities without sensors, Environment Canada said it relies on forecast models, weather observers in airports and satellite imaging to track wildfire smoke and predict its impact to air quality. "But it would be even more accurate if we had an air quality monitor in the community," Henderson said. "Smoke is really dynamic," she said. "Even within a couple of kilometres, the concentrations can be really different." For instance, it is not rare for the two air quality stations in Winnipeg — which are less than four kilometres apart — to show different concentrations of air pollutants from wildfire smoke, said Pascoe. "It can vary even across that relatively small distance," he said. "Without access to that data it makes it more difficult to … really understand what the health effects of poor air are," Pascoe said. "Especially in the north where we've got vulnerable populations that are living right next to these burning forests." One of the closest air quality monitors to Lynn Lake, a town in northwest Manitoba of around 600 people, is about 230 kilometres away in Flin Flon. Henderson and Pascoe agree that the monitor wouldn't provide an accurate reading for the town's air quality given the distance and other models are used to forecast it and trigger warnings, such as one that put Lynn Lake on evacuation alert in late June. Environment Canada said the town could get its air quality index after satellite imaging tracked the smoke that passes through it and found the closest monitor to measure the concentration of pollutants — bringing back the information to get the health risk combined with forecast models. But "you do need more stations in areas where wildfire concern is highest," Pascoe said. "Northern Manitoba … is such a large swath of area that you could have no air quality advisory in place because your air quality monitoring station in Flin Flon and Thompson says there's no air quality advisory," he said. "But in other parts of the province, there could very well be an air quality advisory that isn't being picked up." Planning for a 'smokier future' Environment Canada said they are trying to expand the number of air quality stations and sensors in Manitoba's north in hopes of better monitoring the impacts of wildfire smoke in air quality. "We have a couple tools in the toolbox, but it would obviously be very beneficial as well if we got more of these stations," said Crawford Luke, a meteorologist with the federal agency. But there are some limitations. Sensors most of the time require Wi-Fi and power to feed back the data needed to calculate air quality — a hurdle in remote communities Environment Canada is hoping to overcome, Luke said. A spokesperson for the province told CBC News the government is also planning to expand air quality monitoring using low-cost air-quality sensors in "strategic locations," specifically remote communities frequently impacted by wildfire smoke. But no specifics on the plan have so far been shared, other than saying the province is still in the process of investigating opportunities, including how to configure it best with the existing stations. In the short-term, Pascoe said more air quality infrastructure would also allow Environment Canada to better predict how smoke is drifting as wind directions change and provide more accurate estimates, including in Winnipeg, of when it is unsafe to be outside especially during the wildfire season. Henderson said Environment Canada has been trying to fill in the gaps of air quality monitoring on the map, encouraging communities to install their own sensors in recent years. It is part of transforming an air quality monitoring network that was originally established in Canada to evaluate pollution from traffic and industry. "Those are still important sources, but we have made great progress in regulating those over time," she said. "But what we do see is a lot more wildfire smoke and we're going to keep seeing that." While air quality monitors are not necessarily needed to inform the public that it is smoky outside because pollutants are visible in high concentrations, the value of having these tools is for the long-term, Henderson said. "Wildfire smoke affects your health when it's happening, but it's also going to have a longer lasting effect," she said. Those pile up over time and having better data can help scientists understand the effects of wildfire smoke in a particular location. "As we move into this smokier future, it would be great if people could have had access to something that says how many smoky days have you had in the past 10 years?" she said.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wildfire smoke over Winnipeg akin to having a cigarette
Even if you never smoked a cigarette, you basically had at least one on Friday because of dense smoke from wildfires wafting over Winnipeg. Winnipeg reached its highest smoke particulate count of the season between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. For much of the day, Environment Canada air quality warnings urged everyone to limit time outdoors and reschedule or cancel outdoor sports and activities. Christopher Pascoe, an associate professor in the department of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, said the city's particulate count was at 372.6 micrograms per millilitre cubed. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Wildfire smoke shrouds downtown high-rises as a cyclist makes their way along a bike path beside the Red River Friday morning. 'The current Canadian limit for daily exposure is a total of 27 — that's 15 times higher than the acceptable daily limit,' Pascoe said. 'At that time, if you were out in it for eight hours, that would have been the equivalent to smoking six and a half cigarettes.' Pascoe said by mid-morning the particulate count had dropped more than half, to 146.8. 'That's still seven times the Canadian daily limit and, if you were outside for 24 hours, it is the equivalent of smoking three cigarettes. If you were out for eight hours, that's one cigarette.' Pascoe said more research needs to be done on the short-term and long-term health effects of breathing in that much smoke. He said people at outdoor events, including the Winnipeg Folk Festival, should do what they can to limit their exposure. 'They should wear a mask. You don't actually get symptoms right away; they can come later after the exposure. You cough, you get wheezy. It is very unhealthy to be outside for that long period of time.' At 10 a.m., while the smoke was still listed on the air quality health index at 10-plus, instead of cancelling or postponing the event, the Folk Fest put out a statement urging festival-goers to 'take necessary precautions based on your own needs and reduce strenuous activities when possible. 'Stay hydrated to avoid throat irritation. Wear a mask if necessary. If you are experiencing air-quality related symptoms, please seek medical attention.' By late afternoon, the air quality index had Winnipeg at six, meaning a moderate health risk, with only vulnerable people needing to consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities. The Assiniboine Park Conservancy announced at noon it had made the 'proactive decision' to cancel Friday night's Zoo Nights event. 'We apologize for the inconvenience and thank our guests for understanding,' the conservancy said in a statement, adding ticket purchasers can watch their emails for refund and exchange information. Three more nights scheduled on July 25, Aug. 8 and 22. As for the animals in their care, Daniel Collicutt, the curator of behavioural husbandry at the Assiniboine Park Zoo, said whether it is extreme heat or cold — or now smoke — they monitor them closely. 'It depends on the species,' Collicutt said. 'For the animals outside, we went to make sure they are healthy and happy, not open-mouthed breathing, and they have places to go inside. If an animal appears uncomfortable or shows signs of distress, we can move them into buildings with air filtration.' Collicutt said none of the animals showed any signs of distress. While many would think larger animals, including polar bears and tigers, would be most at risk, it's actually some of the smallest. 'Birds are our highest priority,' he said. 'They have air sacs for flying, but that puts them at risk so we have to monitor them especially close. Juliette Mucha, president and CEO of the Manitoba Lung Association, said when smoke levels are high, Winnipeggers should limit their time outdoors. 'When I saw what it was like today, I made the decision to work at home instead of going to the office,' Mucha said. 'It all goes into your lungs and to your overall system and it has such a negative effect. We are seeing 10-plus levels so high and so often now. People are being exposed and they don't even realize they are doing damage to their lungs.' Mucha said she especially is worried about people at outdoor events when smoke levels are high. 'If they can, they should give their lungs a break,' she said. 'Wear a N95 mask. Instead of a beer, drink two bottles of water to help your lungs. They should go to their car and run the air conditioning and press recirculating mode. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. 'I'm sure first aid (staff) will be busy with people experiencing respiratory issues.' Mucha said if people want to monitor the air quality in Winnipeg and Manitoba, they can go to the association's website and click on the air quality link to see a map of sensors in various communities. Overall, Pascoe said unfortunately Winnipeggers are going to have to get used to smoke. 'It's an unfortunate reality of our summers that this is not going to go away and smoke knows no provincial or federal borders.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Dangerously poor air quality in Manitoba 'about as bad as it's going to get'
Social Sharing As smoke from wildfires continues to fill the air in Manitoba, a local health expert says the air quality on Friday was about as bad as it can get, and he's warning people to avoid going outside if possible until things clear up. "We're at the upper end of the scale, where the scale kind of loses meaning because it can't go any higher, but it seems to continually get worse," said Christopher Pascoe, a University of Manitoba professor whose research focuses on chronic respiratory diseases. "On a day like today, it's about as bad as it's going to get," he said Friday. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued warnings Friday for people in much of the province to limit time outside and to reschedule or cancel outdoor activities and events, after the air quality health index soared from a Level 3 (low risk) to a "very high risk" 10+ level overnight in Winnipeg. The smoke coming from the mass of northern fires in the province has been driven south by a shift in winds, and left most of the province under air quality warnings or special air quality statements. Pascoe said the air quality in Winnipeg early Friday morning was about seven to eight times worse than what the federal government deems acceptable. "With how it was this morning at about 5 a.m. at its peak, being outside for an hour was the equivalent of smoking a cigarette," he said. Pascoe said it's not just people with existing health conditions who need to be worried about breathing in the air in Manitoba. "On days like today, it doesn't really matter if you're somebody with lung disease or an underlying condition or part of a vulnerable population," he said. "You're going to be at risk for experiencing respiratory or lung symptoms, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing." Although it's a busy time of year in Manitoba for outdoor events, including the Winnipeg Folk Festival, running this weekend at Birds Hill Provincial Park, people should seriously consider how much time they're spending outdoors, no matter what they had planned, said Pascoe. "It's hard — you've spent the money, you've looked forward to it for a while, you really don't want to not go — but you also have to be mindful of how this will affect you, both in the short term and in the long term." People with certain existing health conditions in particular should seriously consider staying indoors, he said. "There's a fair amount of evidence that when we have events like this, anytime from a day to a week after, hospitalizations for heart attacks and strokes worsen. There is certainly risk of mortalities or sudden death with air pollution like this, so it's not something to be taken lightly." Pascoe expects the poor air quality to continue until at least Saturday evening. Smoke forces cancellations Last month, similar smoky conditions forced the cancellation of numerous activities and performances, including school field trips, powwows and some outdoor performances by Shakespeare in the Ruins, including the opening night of Macbeth. The Manitoba High School Athletic Association also cancelled the provincial track and field provincial championships early last month due to air quality issues. The Assiniboine Park Conservancy said Friday that due to the air quality warnings, it was cancelling its Zoo Nights event for Friday. It said ticketholders for the adults-only event will be contacted about refunds or exchanges for a future event. The Winnipeg Folk Festival, whose 50th annual event started Thursday and runs until Sunday, has no intentions yet to pause anything. "We are aware of the high index on air quality this morning … [but] we are proceeding as planned," the festival said in an email to CBC Friday. Attendees will be updated regularly through social media, the festival's app and at the Birds Hill site of any changes to the air quality or programming, the statement said. Winnipeg Folk Festival executive director Valerie Shantz told CBC on Friday that although the air quality is far less than ideal, organizers are still hoping for a successful and well-attended festival. "It isn't what we would ask for, but the Folk Festival has a really long reputation of people kind of deciding what they want to do," she said. She added there are medical facilities on site, including a first aid tent, as well as volunteers who she said are watching for people who might be in distress. As of Friday, Shantz said none of the scheduled acts at this year's festival had cancelled due to the air quality.
