If common sense was being used by our local, provincial and federal governments, the idea of transforming Port Alberni into a major, shipping terminal for Asia would not be considered.
The Alberni Inlet is prone to air inversion, especially in winter, which traps pollutants in the valley and adversely affects the health of residents. Did you know that Port Alberni is not monitored for all air contaminants, which include Ozone, Nitrogen Oxide, Carbon Monoxide, Sulpher Dioxide as well as Fine Particulate Matter. Many communities monitor for at least 3 of the contaminants, some such as Whistler, a ski resort, with no industry, monitor for 4. Yet Port Alberni, known to have an air inversion issue, monitors for only 1 contaminant, fine particulate matter. See for yourself http://www.bcairquality.ca/readings/ Click on the map to find existing monitoring stations and see current air quality readings.
But, BIG shipping corporations and BIG mining corporations in collusion with government seem to have no regard for common sense.
It seems as if all three levels of government are ignoring their own scientific research about the Alberni Airshed in order to appease these corporations and other foreign interests.
DOWNLOAD a pdf* file HERE to see the government’s own science about the Alberni Airshed.
*If you encounter problems with this pdf file or would like a hard copy of this brochure, send an e-mail to the website administrator.
ALSO, click the link below to a medical research study done here in Port Alberni with children suffering from asthma to find out why Port Alberni was the location of choice for asthma research:
Acute Effects of Ambient Inhalable Particles in Asthmatic and Nonasthmatic Children
SVERRE VEDAL, JOHN PETKAU, RICK WHITE, and JIM BLAIR
Departments of Medicine and Statistics, University of British Columbia, and Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada