The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in collaboration with Island Health issued an Air Quality Advisory for Port Alberni late Sunday morning.
The warning says that high concentrations of fine particulates are expected to persist until weather conditions change.
The fine particulates can be harmful to those with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and infants, elderly and those with diabetes, and lung or heart diseases.
The advisory says that anyone experiencing symptoms such as continuing eye or throat irritation, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, cough or wheezing, should contact a health care provider.
Staying indoors will help reduce exposure to fine particulate matter.
Wood smoke emissions building up in the valley with calm wind conditions are the cause for the elevated levels of fine particulates in the area. Calm winds are expected to persist until later today.
Real-time air quality observations and information regarding the health effects of air pollution can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air.
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