Additional Environmental Measures

Topic Box from the 2009 Ninth Annual Benchmark Report

Air Quality Health Index

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a new tool distinct from the Air Quality Index (AQI). The difference is that the new index reports health risks rather than pollutant levels. By adjusting the amount of outdoor activity based on the risks reported by this index, Canadians are able to protect themselves when air quality levels pose high and very high health risks.

The AQHI reports on a number of items daily such as a ranking of the air quality on a scale of one to 10+, where a larger number indicates a bigger associated health risk; customized health messages for each category of health risk (low, moderate, high or very high); and, tips on how to adjust one's activity levels accordingly.

The Air Quality Health Index reports on the health risks associated with different levels of a mixture of air pollutants including ozone (O3) at ground level, fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Fresh Water

Of the roughly three percent of freshwater on the Earth, only a tiny portion is surface water. The rest is in glaciers or underground. Canada has about nine percent of the world's renewable water supply. Two important aspects of fresh water are surface water quality and groundwater supply.

Surface water quality is measured with the Water Quality Index, a tool that allows numerous quality characteristics to be expressed as a simple rating. Rankings against these objectives range from Excellent (close to natural) to Poor (almost always threatened or impaired). Of 37 monitored bodies: one rated as Excellent; twelve as Good; seventeen as Fair; six as Marginal (borderline); and, one as Poor.

Thirty-five percent of observation wells had declining water levels due to human activities in 2000-2005. These were concentrated in areas where groundwater withdrawal and urban development have been intensive.

Contaminants

Efforts aimed at PCBs, dioxins and furans as well as other persistent chemicals have been accompanied by lower levels in the general environment.

Roughly 41 percent of sites in the provincial Contaminated Sites Registry have been cleaned up and another 30 are in process.

“Environmental Trends in British Columbia: 2007” by the BC Ministry of Environment has a wealth of information on these topics as well as four other areas of interest: population and economic activity; climate change; species conservation and, ecosystems. Forty-four indicators and over 25 supplementary measures are included in the report.

Source: BC Government, Ministry of Environment