Urban Air Quality a Burning Issue

Growing concerns over the health and environmental effects of wood burning in urban areas have prompted a four-month project to measure and analyze woodsmoke emissions in Montréal. The project, which is being carried out by Environment Canada scientists in cooperation with the Montréal Urban Community and the provincial public health department, is aimed at improving knowledge on the content and volume of woodsmoke emissions, determining local exposure to toxic pollutants, and identifying meteorological conditions that may exacerbate the problem.

Since December 1, 1998, monitoring equipment stationed at Rivière-des-Prairies, at the east end of Montréal Island, has been collecting data on particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds, as well as weather information such as wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity and visibility. So far, signals received from the site show large increases in emissions of particulate matter and PAHs after five o'clock in the evening. Since there is little vehicular traffic in the area, it is likely that the main source of these emissions is wood burning appliances.

Scientists are planning to use the information gathered this season to develop a woodsmoke forecasting program that will enable them to warn citizens to minimize wood burning in conditions where air quality is seriously threatened.