Air is a key component in the health of area residents and the environment. Pollutants in the air resulting from both human activity and natural processes affect ambient air quality. Air Quality is also affected by topography, temperature inversions, pollutant dispersal and the number of sources of pollutants. Alberta Environment works with a variety of stakeholders to establish and review ambient air quality objectives for the province. These objectives take into consideration the impact on human health and the environment, natural levels of pollutants and technology available.
Air in the Heartland is monitored on continuously by Fort Air Partnership, who also maintains a variety of resources, including databases, models, educational tools, facts sheets, and reports that are publicly available on their website. Monitoring systems are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that air quality is being measured accurately. This monitoring data is made available to the public in real-time via the Alberta Environment link below and historical data is available through the CASA Data Warehouse.
Expertise is shared among alliances with other airshed zones, Alberta Environment, industry, and other technical professionals. These contributions, combined with long term monitoring strategies and management groups, will ensure the sustainability of the air quality in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.
Fact Sheets
Additional Resources
- Protecting Air Quality in the Heartland Fact Sheet.
- A real-time map of our air quality
- Historical air quality data can be found on the CASA Data Warehouse
Initiatives and progress in 2011:
- A complete network assessment of Fort Air Partnership's air monitors will be conducted by third party experts to provide recommendations on future enhancements to the air monitoring network.
- A 2010 phone survey revealed that local residents want more information on air quality. Fort Air Partnership is revamping its website, introducing a new e-bulletin and other communications activities to meet these needs. Sign up for the e-bulletin at www.fortair.org.
- NCIA is working with the provincial government and multi-stakeholder groups on developing an Air Framework for the Capital Region and Industrial Heartland as part of the Cumulative Effects Management Framework.
To obtain further information on a variety of topics relating to air, please contact:
