News Release

For immediate release
August 17, 2009

Smog Advisory Lifted

NEWS

Effective immediately a Smog Advisory has been lifted by the Ministry of the Environment for the following forecast regions:

• Belleville-Quinte-Northumberland
• Brockville-Leeds and Grenville
• City of Hamilton
• City of Toronto
• Cornwall-Morrisburg
• Halton-Peel
• Kingston-Prince Edward
• Niagara
• Peterborough-Kawartha Lakes
• Stirling-Tweed-South Frontenac
• York-Durham

Increasing cloudiness and winds across southern and eastern Ontario are resulting in cleaner air in the forecast regions listed above.

• 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.

For more information:

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.

 

-30-

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

 

Back to News Releases