Weather traps pollution in North Okanagan; dust advisory issued

VERNON – The current weather system is trapping pollution in the North Okanagan and has prompted a special air quality statement.

Stagnant winter weather conditions are creating elevated pollution levels, resulting in the dust advisory for Vernon today, Feb. 23.

Anyone with chronic underlying medical conditions, infants, elderly, diabetes and anyone with lung or heart disease should avoid exposure, the advisory states.

The dust advisory was issued by the Ministry of Environment and the Interior Health Authority.

The high concentration of coarse particulates are expected to last until the weather conditions change.

For the latest on this alert visit Environment Canada online.

For information on how to reduce your health risk and your personal contribution to pollution levels, as well as for current and forecast levels, click here.

Real-time air quality observations and information regarding the health effects of air pollution can be found here.

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