NEW SMOG FORECAST PROGRAM FOR NEWFOUNDLAND

ST. JOHN’S – June 14, 2002 – Environment Minister David Anderson and the Honourable Kevin Aylward, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Environment today announced a new daily smog forecast program which will inform Newfoundland residents about the predicted levels of smog in their area. The launch of the Newfoundland Smog Forecast is another step in the development of the air quality prediction program in the Atlantic Region.

"Clean Air for Canadians is a high priority for the Government of Canada," said Minister Anderson. "The Smog Forecast Program will ensure that Newfoundland residents are aware of the quality of the outdoor air they breathe during the smog season and will give them the necessary tools to make informed choices in planning their day-to-day activities."

The Smog Forecast will be issued twice-a-day from now until the end of October as part of Environment Canada's daily weather forecast for the province. It will enable individuals, especially those living with asthma and other respiratory conditions, to take steps to protect their health.

The Smog Forecast provides information on expected levels of ground-level ozone, ranging from "Good" to "Very Poor", over a period of 48 hours. Ground-level ozone is the main contributor to smog and the cause of reduced outdoor air quality in the summer.

"Compared to other areas in Canada Newfoundland residents generally enjoy good air quality. In an ideal world, we shouldn’t have to worry about our air quality, but occasionally there are elevated smog levels. It’s important then to have a process to inform people when there might be a potential risk to their health," said Minister Aylward.

In the summer of 2001, an internal pilot program was carried out to evaluate the smog prediction program in the St. John’s area. Although last summer there were an unusually high number of elevated smog concentrations in Eastern Canada, in Newfoundland there were just a couple of occasions where levels reached the "Fair category" and no incidences falling in the "Poor" category.

However, in the somewhat unlikely event that ground level ozone concentrations do exceed the national standards, Environment Canada will issue a Smog Advisory to alert citizens. The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health and Community Services will issue a Health Advisory simultaneously with the Smog Advisory to alert people about what actions they can take when smog levels are exceedingly high.

"One in five Newfoundland residents suffers from a breathing problem," said Peggy Johnson, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association. "The Lung Association supports the daily Smog Forecast program in its effort to notify those who struggle for every breath they take, about impending poor air quality days."

During the smog season, incidents of poor outdoor air quality in Newfoundland are generally due to the long-range transport of pollution. Ground level ozone can travel great distances from industrialized areas of the United States and central Canada.

Smog is made of many harmful components. The more smog people breathe in, the more likely they are to experience adverse effects. Sensitive people may experience symptoms after only one or two hours outdoors. Health Canada scientists have found that hospital admissions for respiratory ailments are significantly increased by air pollution.

The new Newfoundland Smog Forecast will be made available to local media from Environment Canada. It can also be accessed through Environment Canada's recorded weather information telephone lines in St. John’s, Gander and Corner Brook.

To listen to the recorded Newfoundland Smog Forecast, please call:

• St. John’s (709) 772-5534
• Gander (709) 256-6868
• Corner Brook (709) 637-4570

Visit Environment Canada's Daily Smog Forecast for Newfoundland’s website at: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/ozone.html

For more information, please contact:

Réal Daigle, Manager Air Quality Prediction Programs Environment Canada, Atlantic Region (506) 451-6007	Peter Haring Environmental Chemist Newfoundland & Labrador Department of the Environment (709) 729-4147
Peggy Johnson Executive Director The Lung Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (709)726-4664

Related Link:

Newtown, NF student wins "Kids for Clean Air" poster contest

On Friday, June 14th, 2002 an award presentation was held at the Memorial Academy School in Wesleyville, NF to recognize Grade five student Shelley Sturge, the winner of the "Kids for Clean Air" poster contest.