Extreme smog reported around Merrifield School

If you check the Ontario Government's province-wide air quality monitoring website, it says we're doing fine today in Sault Ste. Marie.

As of 1 p.m., our Air Quality Index (AQI) reading was 27, which is considered 'good.'

Don't believe it, though.

That reading came from one monitoring station at Sault College.

At another station, right next to Wm. Merrifield School on Patrick Street, the AQI reading at 10 a.m. was a through-the-roof 150, more than twice the highest level recorded on the Ministry's web site for Sault Ste. Marie at any time during 2003 and 2004.

Explaining the numbers

A reading between 32 and 49 is deemed 'moderate.' That means people with respiratory disease could be at 'some risk.'

A reading from 50 to 99 is considered 'poor,' meaning there may be short-term adverse effects on humans or animals, significant damage to vegetation and property.

Provincial environment officials start issuing smog advisories when the AQI passes the 50 mark.

Anything over 100 is said to be 'very poor' with adverse effects possible on 'a large proportion of those exposed.'

As numerous SooToday.com readers advised us today, the air was visible bad in some parts of the city.

A layer of thick, low-lying haze could be seen covering much of the Sault, particuarly in the downtown area.

Fine particulates

When we asked the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to check into the situation, they confirmed that the monitoring station at Sault College (that's the one connected to the provincial air quality notification system) had a reading around 20.

Today's extreme reading of 150 on Patrick Street was attributed to fine 'particulate matter.'

As used by the Environment Ministry, that term refers to both solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air.

It can include aerosols, smoke, fumes, pollen, dust, and ash.

So far, neither the Environment Ministry nor the Algoma Health Unit have issued health advisories for Sault Ste. Marie.

Sault Area Hospital reports there's so far been no increase in numbers of respiratory cases seen at the emergency department.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The image at the top of this page is a stock photograph used by SooToday.com to illustrate air-quality stories. It was not taken today.)