Prince George under an air quality advisory due to dust

PRINCE GEORGE— The dry weather and leftover traction gravel from winter has put Prince George under a dust advisory. The high concentration of particulates can affect everyone’s respiratory system but it’s of particular concern for people with chronic health conditions such as asthma.

As we wait for a rainy day to clear the dust it’s recommended to avoid strenuous physical exercise and stay away from busy highways to reduce exposure.

“We also monitor particles that are even smaller, two and a half micrometers in diameter and smaller,” says Gail Roth, an air quality meteorologist at the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy. “Those typically originate from combustion sources. So, you may see at other times we have what’s called an air quality advisory issued in the city, and that’s because of those finer particles.”