Edmonton February Luncheon: Air quality and sources affecting PM2.5 levels in the City of Red Deer

CPANS is pleased to announce the February Edmonton Luncheon Topic – Heavy Oil and Oil Sands, Still Venting After All These Years.

Concern was raised back in 2015 about poor air quality in Red Deer potentially due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The press reported that Alberta was on track to have the worst air quality in Canada, specifically referring to air quality in Red Deer. A study was undertaken using data for a 5-year period from an air monitoring station in Red Deer – Red Deer Riverside. The study used state-of-the-art analytical methods for identifying sources within and outside of the city. These included the US Environment Protection Agency Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model version 5.0, Conditional Bivariate Probability Function (CBPF) analysis and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorological model HYSPLIT for air parcel backward trajectory analysis. Non-parametric regression analysis was carried out to investigate the strength and direction of monotonic relationships between PMF -derived factors and criteria pollutants and meteorological parameters. A ‘deep–dive’ analysis was also undertaken – looking at backward trajectories for specific days when PM2.5 levels were  ≥ 25 μg/m3 excluding major wildfire smoke episodes. The study was independently peer reviewed and published in the international journal Environmental Pollution. Identified sources, their contribution and potential origins (local and long-range) will be presented.

Presenter: Warren Kindzierski, Ph.D., P.Eng., School of Public Health, University of Alberta

Dr. Warren Kindzierski is with the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. Prior to that, he was with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for 9 years and Alberta Health for 3 years. He has trained 47 graduate students and 10 research associates and post-doctorates, mainly in air quality investigations and health risk assessment and is an author/co-author of 115 refereed journal and conference papers.

Location: The University of Alberta Faculty Club (11435, Saskatchewan Drive), Papaschase Room (upstairs, right)
Time: 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. (registration starts at 11:30)
Cost: $30 – A&WMA Members / $40 – Non-Members / $15 – Students (includes hot lunch & coffee). All prices include GST.

New Option! Join the CPANS luncheon by webcast. Cost: $15 Single Webcast. Please use the drop down menu Student for Single Webcast.

The U of A campus is accessible by light rail transit and bus. A map of the campus is available at: http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/. You are encouraged to use public transit or ride-share. Parking is available in the V-Lot (coin and credit card, $2 for the lunch hour) and Windsor ($1 for 15 minutes).