Exposure Assessment to Estimate the Population Exposed to Low Air Quality from Wildfires in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

In 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2023, British Columbia experienced severe wildfire seasons, leading to increased exposure to PM2.5, which can cause respiratory issues and even death. Hourly PM2.5 data from air quality monitoring stations across the Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD) between 2014 and 2023 were aggregated to daily values. The weighted average daily PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using the indirect method of Thiessen polygons to obtain spatial coverage of the stations. Person-days of exposure to weighted average daily PM2.5 concentrations above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level of 15 μg/m3 were calculated considering days during the year with concentrations above this level and the population of the MVRD. During the study period, the number of person-days exposed annually to PM2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO air quality standards in MVRD showed notable peaks in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023, with 2018 recording the highest exposures at 53,283,580 person-days.

Author dc:creator

• Vidal Veliz, Carolina, Liz

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Shrestha, Rudra

• School of environment and sustainability

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/ir-19813

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/28204