The Smog Forecast will be issued twice a day up to the beginning of October as part of Environment Canada's daily weather forecast for the region. Ground-level ozone is the main ingredient of smog and the cause of a majority of poor air quality incidents in southern New Brunswick. It is an important addition to the daily weather forecast for the Saint John area. We are pleased to pilot the forecast here in partnership with the government of New Brunswick. This new forecast builds on the existing national Smog Advisory program and complements New Brunswick's daily Air Quality Index.
Recent research indicates that even low levels of smog can have an effect on human health.
The Smog Forecast allows individuals, especially those with asthma and other respiratory conditions, to take expected pollution levels into account when planning their activities. During the summer months, the majority of poor air quality incidents in southern New Brunswick are due to the long-range transport of pollution, which can be affected by local weather patterns. The new smog forecast is an expansion of Environment Canada's daily weather service in the Saint John area. It will be issued by the department's New Brunswick Weather Centre and be available via the local media, Environment Canada's recorded weather information telephone lines and its Green Lane Internet Web site. These federal government information points will also be linked with provincial health and environmental information sources.