Nova Scotia Smog Forecast Program Launched

Nova Scotians can now receive a daily Smog Forecast, thanks to an initiative between the provincial government and Environment Canada.

The Smog Forecast program will inform Nova Scotians about the predicted levels of smog in their area. It will be issued twice daily until Oct. 31 as part of Environment Canada's daily weather forecast. The forecast will enable individuals, especially those living with asthma and other respiratory conditions, to protect their health and the environment.

The program was launched today in Halifax by Labour Minister Angus MacIsaac, on behalf of the province, and Senator Bernie Boudreau, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of federal Environment Minister David Anderson.

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 poor outdoor air quality.

"Overall, Nova Scotians enjoy good air quality. Ideally, we shouldn't have to worry about our air, but, occasionally, there are times smog exists. It's important then to have a process to inform people when there is potential risk to their health," said Mr. MacIsaac.

"Clean air for Canadians is a high priority for the Government of Canada," said Senator Boudreau. "The Smog Forecast Program ensures that Nova Scotians know the quality of the outdoor air they breathe during the smog season. This allows them to make informed choices that help reduce local sources of air pollution."

Mr. Anderson recently announced $1 million in funding to build a framework to extend daily air quality forecasting across Canada within the next year. The Nova Scotia Smog Forecast is part of the expansion.

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 hospitalizations for respiratory ailments are significantly increased by air pollution.

"One in four Nova Scotians suffers from a breathing problem," said Bill VanGorder, president of The Lung Association of Nova Scotia. "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."

The Department of the Environment will assist in monitoring air quality.

In addition to the daily Smog Forecast, Environment Canada will issue a smog advisory to alert citizens when ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to exceed the national standard. The Department of Health 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.

During the smog season, incidents of poor outdoor air quality in Nova Scotia 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.

The new Nova Scotia 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 Yarmouth, Halifax, New Glasgow and Sydney.

To hear the recorded Nova Scotia Smog Forecast, telephone:
Halifax, 902-426-9090; Yarmouth, 902-742-6464; New Glasgow, 902- 752-2222; and Sydney, 902-564-7357.

Check Environment Canada's daily Smog Forecast for Nova Scotia at: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/ozone.html .