Why there's so much road dust in Vernon, and its effects

UPDATED: 12:19 p.m.

Yet another road dust advisory has been issued for Vernon.

Interior Health advises pedestrians to avoid roads with heavy vehicle traffic. They also state those with respiratory issues should be extra careful outdoors.

The air quality advisory will be in effect until further notice.

ORIGINAL: 5:00 a.m.

Vernon has been hit with multiple air quality advisories this year, lasting for numerous days. The number of days that have been under an advisory has risen each year, with 2019 coming in at a total of 18.

The reason for Vernon's road dust advisories are due to two factors: the geographical location of the city, and the type of road grit being used on the streets.

When it comes to dust particulates, there are two types that are monitored by air quality devices. PM10 is a larger, more coarse type of dust particle. It is visible to eye, and poses no real health risk. PM2.5 is a much finer dust particulate, and can't be seen by the naked eye. This finer particle is the more hazardous type out of the two.

"With the PM10, your body naturally filters it out so it doesn't get deep into your lungs," says Kevin Aschenmeier, an employee at the Okanagan Science Centre. "The PM2.5 goes further into your lungs and causes more health problems."

The air quality measuring device is located at the science centre, where it monitors the air quality for the citizens of Vernon. The city is more susceptible to road dust advisories due to its location just as much as the road grit itself.

"We don't really have the winds here to clear the air," says Aschenmeier. "If you lived on the coast you might have more pollution, but it would register as less because the wind blow is out to sea. Here, it gets stuck in the valley so it just sits here."

The City of Vernon has been conducting research into road grit alternatives, but their early findings have shown that their current road grit is appropriate.

"A report will be brought forward to council regarding the type of road grits that we use and what alternatives were explored," says Christy Poirier, spokesperson for the City of Vernon. "Early conclusions from a geotechnical engineer show that the road grit we use is actually testing better."

The City is also in the process of procuring a vacuum streetsweeper, but Poirier said it's likely that the machine won't be brought in until late spring or early summer.