Air quality objectives are limits on the acceptable presence of contaminants in the atmosphere, established by government agencies to protect human health and the environment. They are generally expressed in terms of a concentration (e.g., micrograms per cubic metre, or parts per billion) measured over a specific period of time (e.g., one hour, 24 hours or one year).
Objectives are one kind of "criteria." Criteria also include standards, guidelines and planning goals.
British Columbia has adopted air quality objectives and standards for a number of contaminants, including: PM10, PM2.5, ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.
In April 2009, B.C. adopted new air quality objectives for PM2.5. For more details, see New Ambient Air Quality Criteria for PM2.5.
The province has also adopted the Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone.
Air quality objectives are nonstatutory limits used to guide decisions, unless written specifically into a permit or regulation. They are typically used to:
As even low levels of air pollution can affect some individuals, air quality objectives should not be viewed as levels we can “pollute up to," but levels to stay well below.
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