Our air is sampled every second by scientific instruments at air quality stations close to where people live, work and play. Thirty one air quality monitoring stations form the Lower Fraser Valley Air Quality Monitoring Network.

Ozone is a pungent gas made of three oxygen atoms. Ozone can form in two places: 1) high up in the atmosphere, and 2) right down at the ground. When it’s up high in the ozone layer it’s “good” ozone. The ozone layer acts like sunscreen lotion for the Earth – blocking out most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are known collectively as nitrogen oxides (NOx). On hot and sunny days, nitrogen oxides can react with other pollutants to form ground-level ozone. Nitrogen oxides can also react with other pollutants to form fine particulate matter

Particulate matter (PM) is made up of tiny solid or liquid particles that float in the air. Particulate matter can be emitted directly and it can be formed indirectly when nitrogen oxides or sulphur oxides react with ammonia in the atmosphere.

Sulphur dioxide is a colourless gas that smells like burnt matches. It is emitted when fossil fuels containing sulphur are burned. Sulphur dioxide can also react with other substances in the air to form particulate matter which can affect human health and create a “white haze” in the air.