A local initiative for mobile monitoring to measure residential wood smoke concentration and distribution

Health concerns about air quality by community members led to this collaborative study to determine the magnitude and distribution of wood smoke in the Cranbrook–Kimberley area of the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The concentration of microscopic particles, 2.5 μm or less in diameter (PM2.5), has a strong association with mortality, hospitalizations and pulmonary symptoms. This was measured by mobile nephelometer, along with GPS readings, temperature, humidity and wind velocity, during 18 consecutive evening drives along a predetermined route in the winter of 2011. Mean temperature and wind velocity ranged from −21 to +6 °C and 0 to 12.6 km/h, respectively. Average nephelometer readings for the 18 evenings ranged from 2 to 9 μg/m3, correlating inversely with mean temperature, but because of varying amounts of wood stove emissions, the relationship was not apparent at any one location during any individual drive. The mean deviation between the mean measured PM2.5 for each evening and that predicted from the average temperature and wind velocity was 1.1 μg/m3. Some 13,000 nephelometer readings (each 15 s average) were plotted within 500 and 250 m square grid cells encompassing the route. The mean and maximum values obtained within the larger cells ranged from 1 to 11 and 6 to 90 μg/m3, respectively. Four specific locations of high average mean and maximum values were identified, with four additional hotspots noted with the smaller cells. This project demonstrates what can be accomplished with cooperation among inspired individuals and citizen groups. The pinpointed hotspots can focus additional surveys of wood stove use and provide baseline data to gauge effects of airshed management strategies, provide information for land use planning and review of bylaws specific to air quality. The project partners hope these results will aid local governments to increase public awareness of health implications of wood burning emissions, implement future monitoring and provide education for the proper use of wood as a heating fuel.