Ontario issued its first air quality advisory of the year yesterday, with increased smog levels recorded across southwestern, central and eastern Ontario.
The smog in Hamilton was the worst as by early afternoon the provincial air quality index hit 64.
Officials say a high pressure area centered just south of the lower Great Lakes, coupled with light southerly winds, is to blame for the first bout of bad air this year.
Local pollutants combined with those from the U.S. to create a blanket of lousy air.
The Niagara Escarpment can trap pollutants in the Hamilton area, said John Steele, an Environment Ministry spokesperson.
Air quality in Burlington, Toronto and Oakville was moderate.
While this is the first smog advisory of 2006, it comes later than the first alert of 2005 -- the worst smog year on record. Last year by this time, the government had already issued three smog advisories.
Steele urged people to conserve energy and use public transit to lessen the pollution. Source. This way to my BLOG.
