In 2007, open burning and residential wood burning were identified as the main sources of air pollution in our region. In 2015, a collaborative Clean Air Strategy report was completed, which defined visions, goals, strategies, and actions. The main vision is clean and healthy air for current and future generations.
Based on long-term monitoring data, air quality in the Central Okanagan is generally good. A 2016 study in the Central Okanagan found specific neighbourhoods may reach higher concentrations of particulate matter due to local wood burning sources and vehicle emissions.
Health effects and sources of air pollution
Air pollution
Smoke from residential wood burning and open burning, vehicle emissions and dust are significant sources of particulate matter. Particulate matter are tiny particles, not visible by the naked eye, that are inhaled deep into lungs and enter the blood stream.
The main sources of air pollution in the Central Okanagan are:
- Particulate matter (ie. from combustion like wildfires and vehicle engines)
- Ozone (ie. forms when nitrogen oxides and VOCs react on warm days)
- NOx (ie. from burning fossil fuels at high temperatures, like transportation and heating fuels)
- VOCs (ie. from fossil fuel evaporation and combustion, solvent use and industrial processes)
- NH3 (ie. from agricultural operations and heavy-duty diesel vehicles)
- GHGs (ie. from combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles and in buildings)
Indoor air quality
People spend the majority of their time inside, so indoor air quality is an important health consideration. Pollutants can migrate from outdoors or come from indoor sources, such as building materials, gas stoves, and radon.
There are three main types of indoor air contaminants:
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Biological pollutants from living organisms (e.g. mould and fungi, bacteria, dust mites, pollen and spores)
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Chemical pollutants could be gases, vapours or particles (e.g. nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, asbestos, ozone, VOCs and particulate matter).
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Radiological pollutants are radioactive substances (e.g. radon)
What you can do
- Tips to reduce air pollution
- Rebates and offers from Fortis BC
- Residential rebates and free programs from BC Hydro
- Visit smartTRIPS for active transportation information
- If your home uses wood heating, review best practices and our exchange programs
- Consider radon testing for indoor spaces and follow up with mitigation efforts
- Avoid toxic chemicals
- Use vinegar and baking soda to clean. Vinegar is an excellent all-purpose cleaner and baking soda works well to scrub and deodorize surfaces.
- Look for Canadian environmental labels to find products that meet strict environmental standards over their entire life cycle.
Additional resources
- Health Canada - Air quality and health
- BC Environmental protection and sustainability - Air
- Interior Health - Air quality
- BC Lung Foundation - Health and air quality
- Scout Environmental:
Best practice guides
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Dust |
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This Dust Best Management Practices Guide is intended to assist any person, local governments or corporations which would like to improve its dust management. This is a compilation of several best practices from various companies and local governments in Canada and other countries to support current or help initiate efforts to prevent or control fugitive dust. |
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Green fleet guide |
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The Green Fleet Guide can serve as a starting point for local governments or corporations to update or develop and implement their own Green Fleet Policy. It is intended to support companies with a small-medium fleet to complete a vehicle inventory and calculate their Baseline emissions. It contains emission factors, a fleet inventory template, and several links to other useful resources to support their continuing efforts to keep our air clean. Request the excel file to complete your Fleet Inventory and estimate baseline emissions. Send an email to airquality@kelowna.ca
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| Sustainable procurement |
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This Sustainable Procurement Guide is intended to assist any person, local governments or Corporations which would like to commence or increase its environmental leadership and social responsibility. The model policy, checklist and guidelines are a compilation of several policies and best practices from various companies and local governments in Canada and other countries. The model policy, or an amended version, could serve as a starting point for corporations or local governments to create or update their own policy based on their specific circumstances, requirements, and timeframes. Includes general purchasing specifications, what are the international and well recognized Third Party certification logos, low VOC’s % reference for specific products, etc.
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| Radon |
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Radon has been identified as the leading environmental carcinogen in Canada. In 2021 and 2022 the BC Lung Foundation-Healthy Indoor Environments Program, worked with the Regional District of Central Okanagan's Air Quality Coordinator, Interior Health and workshopped with local governments to create a comprehensive guide for local radon reduction: |