Road dust prompts air quality warning in Vernon

Dusty roads and industry prompted an air quality warning in Vernon today. There are high concentrations of coarse particulate matter in the air that could cause health concerns, especially for those with chronic illnesses, according to the dust advisory from the BC Ministry of Environment and Interior Health. Vernon residents with asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes; respiratory infections such as COVID-19, pregnant women, infants, and older adults, are advised to try to stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise to reduce exposure and health risks. The air quality is particularly bad near busy roads where traffic kicks up dust and industrial operations. The dust advisory is in place until further notice, precipitation, dust suppression, and a change in traffic patterns would help reduce the amount of particulate in the air. Dust advisories are issued when there is more than 50 micrograms of coarse particulate in a cubic metre of air, currently Vernon is at 68.2 micrograms. Click here for updates. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air/air-quality/air-advisories To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .