UNBC researchers are currently conducting a variety of studies thatwill provide Prince George with the best information yet on how toimprove the City’s air quality.

The research projects are examining a number of factors related to theair pollution in Prince George, focusing on very small particles thatare below 2.5 microns in size. These particles are believed to have thegreatest health effects as they can be breathed deeply into the lungs.The research is gathering data on a variety of items that contribute tothe pollution problem:
•    Emission sources and the amount of pollutants they contribute
•    Pollution levels at different locations around the City
•    The chemical composition of the pollutants
•    Year-round data on temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction

“Our most comprehensive study will combine all of this data into acomputerized air pollution dispersal model for Prince George that willallow us to determine where we need to focus our efforts,” says PeterJackson, a professor of Environmental Science and Engineering and amember of the Prince George Air Quality Implementation Committee’sResearch Working Group. “With the computer model, we’ll be able to seehow pollutants from all of the sources affect the air quality atvarious locations around the City. We’ll be able to use the model tomanipulate the emission values from different sources to help usdetermine those that have the greatest effect on the largest number ofpeople. The computing power required for this is immense, but it’s nowpossible in Prince George with new high-performance computing capacityat UNBC.”
 
The new research will provide specifics on the individual contributorsand their effects on air quality, leading to effective action toimprove local air quality. It’s expected that the results will start tobecome available in early 2008.

The research is being funded by the City of Prince George, the BCMinistry of the Environment, Environment Canada, Northern Health, andCanfor.

Contact:
Peter Jackson, Environmental Science and Engineering professor, UNBC – 250.960.5985
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622 

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