All about BC air quality Janis McMath Editor-in-Chief ue to wildfire smoke, BC’s air quality has been consistently fluctuating. Wildfire smoke comes with many different pollutants—but according to HealthLinkBC the “biggest public health concern from outdoor air pollution” is fine particulate matter. These 2.5 micrometre liquid or solid particles can be drawn deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing health problems like inflammation. Also, due to their microscopic size, they are difficult to remove from the air. There are many reasons that PM2.5 (referring to their diameter) build up. It Room 1020 - 700 Royal Ave. Douglas College New Westminster, BC, V3L 5B2 604-525-3542 Janis McMath , Editor-in-Chief 1 _Meditor@theotherpress.ca Lauren Gargiulo News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca Morgan Hannah A Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca Position Open Entertainment Editor M4 humour@theotherpress.ca Christine Weenk Layout Manager M layout@theotherpress.ca Lauren Kelly & Graphics Manager © graphics@theotherpress.ca is often observed when there is forest fire smoke—in 2018, Metro Vancouver stayed under forest fire air quality advisories for 18 days—but there are other ways they build up. Last year, parts of the province had record low temperatures due to an Arctic polar vortex that moved across Canada from January to February. These frigid and consistent conditions coupled with residential wood burning actually lead to PMz2.5 air quality advisories. Residential wood burning is actually one of the largest sources of PM2.5 aside from forest fires— other sources include “furnaces, tobacco smoke, and all mobile vehicles, especially those with diesel engines.’ Here in BC we are lucky to know that @ theotherpress.ca © editor@theotherpress.ca ¥ © /theotherpress f/douglasotherpress Jessica Berget Assistant Editor M assistant@theotherpress.ca Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor Marts@theotherpress.ca Matthew Fraser Opinions Editor M opinions@theotherpress.ca Nhi Jenny' Vo Production Assistant Jacey Gibb S Distribution Manager our Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) consistently indicates that we are ina healthy area. Another common measure of air quality is the Air Quality Index, otherwise known as the AQI. This measure is often used by other countries, but this system is broader and takes both environmental and health concerns into account; the AQHI focuses on the elements of air quality that are harmful to humans. The index goes from 1 to 10 with 1 to 3 as very low risk, 4 to 6 as moderate risk, 6 to 10 as high risk, and 10+ as very high risk. On October 5, Metro Vancouver had an AQHI rating of three. All of this serves as a reminder to be grateful that our air quality issues are Position Open Business Manager Athena Little Timothy Easling Alexis Zygan Contributors Udeshi Cover layout by Seneviratne Athena Little and Illustrators Lauren Kelly Position Open Feature layout by Staff Reporter Athena Little and Mo Hussain Christine Weenk Sports Reporter Craig Allan CJ Sommerfeld Staff Writers Billy Bui Arnaldo Fragozo Staff Photographers Jerrison Oracion Jonathan Pabico Brandon Yip Senior Columnists Photos by Billy Bui temporary; Vancouver's average AQHI has hovered around an average of two since 2007. While surgical face masks can prove to be helpful when the air quality is poor, places like Beijing must utilize face masks specifically made for pollution (the masks have special filters.) BC might be suffering from the smoke now, but at least there is a promise of clearer days. On to Cincinnati, SAME Janis McMath The Other Press has been Douglas College’s student newspaper since 1976. Since 1978 we have been an autonomous publication, independent of the student union. We are a registered society under the Society Act of British Columbia, governed by an eight-person board of directors appointed by our staff. Our head office is located in the New Westminster campus. The Other Press is published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. We receive our funding from a student levy collected through tuition fees every semester at registration, and from local and national advertising revenue. The Other Press is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), a syndicate of student newspapers that includes papers from all across Canada. The Other Press reserves the right to choose what we will publish, and we will not publish material that is hateful, obscene, or condones or promotes illegal activities. Submissions may be edited for clarity and brevity if necessary. All images used are copyright to their respective owners.