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235 changes: 235 additions & 0 deletions frontend/warnings/2026-03-28_Golden_continue_pm10.md
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---
author:
- Muntaseer Azkar
authors:
- Muntaseer Azkar
burnRestrictions: 0
bylaw: false
date: 2026-03-28
ice: Continue
location: Golden
params:
aqMet: Sakshi Jain
burnRestrictionEndDate: 2025-09-28
burnRestrictionEndTime: "12:00 PM"
burnRestrictions: 0
ice: Issue
issuedate: 2025-07-20
location: Prince George
nextUpdate: 2025-09-28
outputFormat: markdown
pollutant: PM25 & PM10
pollutant: PM10
title: Air quality warning in effect for Golden
toc-title: Table of contents
type: local_emissions
---

<!--
Copyright 2025 Province of British Columbia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
-->
<!-- Logo header, the layout-col should be set based on number of logos including FHNA and BCGov -->
<!-- the trailing slash means the text in square brackets is alt text -->

::: {layout-ncol= 3 layout-valign="bottom"}

![Government of British Columbia logo](/assets/logo_BCID_V_RGB_pos.png)\

![First Nations Health Authority logo](/assets/logo_FNHA.png)\

![Interior Health Authority logo](/assets/logo_IH.png)\

:::

The Ministry of Environment and Parks in collaboration with the Interior
Health Authority issued an Air Quality Warning for Golden on March 27,
2026. The warning remains in effect due to elevated coarse particulate
matter.

Exposure to coarse particulate matter is particularly a concern for
infants, older adults, individuals with chronic conditions (such as
asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes) or respiratory infections,
and those who are pregnant. Persons with chronic underlying medical
conditions or acute infections should postpone or reduce strenuous
exercise until the warning is ended. Anyone experiencing symptoms such
as continuing eye or throat irritation, chest discomfort, shortness of
breath, cough or wheezing, should follow the advice of their health care
provider. Staying indoors helps to reduce exposure.

Current conditions are expected to persist until weather conditions
change and/or local emissions are reduced.

The next update will be on March 29, 2026 and posted to the province's
[Air Quality Warnings webpage](https://www.gov.bc.ca/airquality).

Visit the provincial [air quality data
webpage](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air/air-quality)
for real-time observations.

## Actions you can take

As air contaminant levels increase, health risks increase. Consider
reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.

People more likely to be negatively impacted by outdoor air pollution
should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors or seek
medical attention if experiencing symptoms. This includes people aged 65
and older, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people with
an existing illness or chronic health condition such as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes, and
people who work outdoors.

{{< accordion_controls >}}
{{< accordion_start title="Follow your common sense" initiallyOpen="true" >}}

- Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes
uncomfortable or you feel unwell.

- Always carry any rescue medications with you.

- Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves
follow the same advice.

{{< accordion_end >}}
{{< accordion_start title="Monitor your symptoms" initiallyOpen="true" >}}

- Different people have different responses to elevated levels of air
contaminants.
- Mild irritation and discomfort such as eye, nose and throat
irritation, headaches or a mild cough are common, and usually
disappear when the air contaminants return to typical levels.
- More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains
or severe cough.
- People with asthma or other chronic illness should follow any
personal care plans designed with their family physicians.
- If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC
at 8-1-1.
- If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or
discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your physician, walk-in
clinic, or emergency department. If you are having a medical
emergency, call 9-1-1.

{{< accordion_end >}}
{{< accordion_start title="Tips to reduce your exposure to air pollution" initiallyOpen="true" >}}

- Air contaminant levels may be lower indoors but will still be
elevated, so stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.

- When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

- Protect your indoor air from outdoor air pollution. Actions can
include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation
system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine
particles. Do-it-yourself air cleaners may also be used if other
options are unavailable. For more details, see the BC Centre of
Control [fact
sheet](https://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Health-Environment/BCCDC_WildFire_FactSheet_BoxFanAirFilters.pdf).

- If you must spend time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting
and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified
N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to
particulate matter. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can
still be risks to health.

- Avoid roads with heavy vehicle traffic and areas with wood smoke.

{{< accordion_end >}}

## Emission reduction actions

{{< accordion_start title="Mandatory actions" initiallyOpen="true" >}}

- Facilities with air discharge authorizations under the Environmental
Management Act are required to follow trigger actions within their
permit related to Air Quality Warnings and are encouraged to reduce
any other emissions where possible.

{{< accordion_end >}}
{{< accordion_start title="Voluntary actions" initiallyOpen="true" >}}

- Avoid driving on the road shoulder or other areas where road
traction material has accumulated.
- When cleaning driveways and parking lots, lightly wet the area
before sweeping. Avoid using leaf blowers to clean up dirt during
spring clean up.

{{< accordion_end >}}

## More information

{{< accordion_start title="Current conditions" initiallyOpen="true" >}}

Coarse particulate matter refers to airborne solid or liquid droplets
with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers (μm). Together with fine
particulate matter (airborne solid or liquid droplets with diameters of
2.5 μm or less), these particles are referred to as PM~10~. Sources of
PM~10~ contributing to this air quality episode include road dust from
the emission of winter traction material along busy and dry road
surfaces. PM~10~ can easily penetrate indoors because of their small
size.

The current dusty conditions are caused by road traffic stirring up
winter traction materials that have accumulated on roadways over the
past winter.

The provincial air quality objective for PM~10~ is 50 micrograms per
cubic metre (μg/m^3^), averaged over 24 hours. 24-hour average PM~10~
concentrations are summarized below for Golden and nearest monitored
communities at 11:00 AM local time today:

::: {.table-responsive}

Community Golden Castlegar Elkford Sparwood
------------------------- -------- ----------- --------- ----------
24-hr average (μg/m^3^) 55.0 14.8 19.6 40.3

:::

{{< accordion_end >}}

**For additional information about air quality in British Columbia:**

::: bcds-card-wrapper
{{< card_start title="Air Quality Health Index" variant="info" logo="/assets/icon_air.svg" >}}
Provincial summary of latest index and forecast.

[What's the air like
today?](https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/data/aqhi-table.html)
{{< card_end >}}
{{< card_start title="Provincal Air Quality Map" variant="info" logo="/assets/icon_air.svg" >}}
Provincial air quality data refreshed every hour.

[Latest air quality
data](https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/find-stations-map.html)
{{< card_end >}}
{{< card_start title="Metro Vancouver Air Quality" variant="success" logo="/assets/icon_chart.svg" >}}
Warnings and a map of air quality and weather data.

[Air quality data and
warnings](https://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/air-quality-data-and-advisories)
{{< card_end >}}

:::

## Contact

**Media questions regarding this Air Quality Warning:**
{{< card_start width="wide" >}}

Muntaseer Azkar`<br />`{=html}Air Quality
Meteorologist`<br />`{=html}Ministry of Environment and
Parks`<br />`{=html}604-558-9508

{{< card_end >}}

**Media questions regarding health implications when air quality is
degraded:** {{< card_start width="wide" >}}

Interior Health Authority`<br />`{=html}Media line:
1-844-469-7077`<br />`{=html}Email:
media@interiorhealth.ca`<br />`{=html}

{{< card_end >}}
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