PurpleAir particulate matter monitors and PM2.5 Measurements
There are thousands of PurpleAir particulate matter monitors installed around the world; about 20, including two in James Bay, are located in the Greater Victoria region. Click here to view the PurpleAir map.
Why measure ultra-fine paticulate matter in James Bay
From the BC Government website:
“Fine particulate matter can be harmful to humans. Exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with several serious health effects including heart and lung disease. Both short-term (24-hour) and longer-term (a year or more) exposure to fine particulate matter can have negative effects on human health’.
PurpleAir, AQI & ug/m3
The default setting for the PurpleAir map is to display the PM2.5 level in terms of the Air Quality Index (AQI) rather than in ug/m3. Either use the conversion table below or use this link to view the levels in terms of ug/m3.
Particulate Matter and Cruise Ship Emissions
In 2015 when legislation to limit the fuel sulphur content to 0.1% was imminent the cruise companies successfully lobbied the US government to permit the use of stack scrubbers to remove SO2 and revert to the use of high sulphur content fuel. The use of these heavier fuels results in higher levels of particulate matter. No standards were set for particulate matter scrubber emissions
From the International Council on Clean Transportation:
“Particulate matter emissions are nearly 70% higher using HFO with a scrubber compared with MGO”
HFO = high sulphur fuel; MGO = lower sulphur fuel
From the Johns Hopkins University report
“Concentrations of PM on the decks of these
ships are comparable to concentrations measured in
polluted cities, including Beijing and Santiago”
In 2019 GVHA published an Emissions Study. However, the study relied entirely on theoretical values; no actual measurements were taken.
During the 2022 cruise ship season five particulate matter monitors were deployed within James Bay. The PM2.5 levels during that period did not exceed Provincial guidelines. This is an indication that the cruise ships switched to clean fuel when docked at Ogden Point.
