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Fact Sheet

For immediate release
October 10, 2003

SMOG ADVISORIES IN ONTARIO

• On October 10, 2003, The Ontario Ministry of the Environment issued its 7th Smog Advisory of 2003. The previous six advisories have covered 17 days to date. Over the same period last year, the ministry issued 10 Smog Advisories covering 27 days.
  
• The ministry issues a Smog Advisory when there is a high probability for widespread, elevated, and persistent smog levels either immediately or the following day.
  
• Elevated smog levels are defined as Air Quality Index (AQI) readings of 50 or higher, covering at least one of Ontario's Smog Forecast Regions in which meteorological conditions conducive to elevated smog levels are expected to persist for at least six hours.
  
• Ontario has one of Canada's most modern air monitoring networks. Currently, there are 30 state-of-the-art AQI monitoring stations reporting across Ontario.
  
• Each air monitoring site is equipped to measure some or all of six common air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, total reduced sulphur compounds, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

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Contact:
John Steele
Communications Branch
Ministry of the Environment
(416) 314-6666