News Release

For immediate release
August 14, 2009

Notice of Smog Advisory

NEWS

The Ministry of the Environment is issuing a Smog Advisory for tomorrow, August 15, 2009 for the following forecast regions:

• Bancroft-Bon Echo
• Barrie-Orillia-Midland
• Belleville-Quinte-Northumberland
• Brockville-Leeds and Grenville
• City of Hamilton
• City of Ottawa
• City of Toronto
• Cornwall-Morrisburg
• Dufferin-Innisfil
• Dunnville-Caledonia-Haldimand
• Elgin
• Grey-Bruce
• Haliburton
• Halton-Peel
• Huron-Perth
• Kingston-Prince Edward
• London-Middlesex
• Niagara
• Oxford-Brant
• Parry Sound-Muskoka-Huntsville
• Peterborough-Kawartha Lakes
• Prescott and Russell
• Renfrew-Pembroke-Barry’s Bay
• Sarnia-Lambton
• Simcoe-Delhi-Norfolk
• Smiths Falls-Lanark-Sharbot Lake
• Stirling-Tweed-South Frontenac
• Waterloo-Wellington
• Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent
• York-Durham

Hot and sunny conditions combined with a southwesterly flow of polluted air from the U.S. and local build-up of pollutants are expected to result in high smog levels tomorrow across southern, central and eastern Ontario.

This advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

QUICK FACTS

• A Smog Advisory is related to the Air Quality Index (AQI), which rates how clean the air is. The AQI scale ranges from 0 to 100+. Higher numbers mean higher health risks.
• A Smog Advisory is issued in your region when the AQI is expected to reach 50 in the next 24 hours. It can be lifted once the AQI is expected to reach or drops below 50.
• Smog is made up of a complex mixture of air pollutants that are sometimes visible, such as a brownish-yellow haze over cities; sometimes not. The two main ingredients of smog are ground-level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
• Smog is harmful to the lungs and heart. Even in healthy people, smog can reduce lung function.

LEARN MORE

Check out the Air Quality Index or AQI in your area.

To help combat smog, here’s what you can do to spare the air.

Learn more about air quality.

 

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Contacts:	Contact information for the general public:
Kate Jordan, Communications Branch, 416-314-6666	416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ontario.ca/environment

 

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