Air Quality Section

Information Brochures and Reports

NEW REPORT RELEASED:
AIR QUALITY MONITORING AT SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA NEAR PETROLEUM HANDLING FACILITIES (Virden, Pierson, Waskada and Deloraine)
March, 2002

In response to health concerns raised by local residents about impacts of oilfield emissions on air quality, Manitoba Conservation conducted an air quality monitoring program in the area of Tilston, MB from July 1998 to June 2000. A report on the findings has been released (see sidebar).

As a result of continuing interest in oilfield emissions, Manitoba Conservation, along with the Petroleum Branch of Manitoba Industry, Trade and Mines, decided to continue background air quality monitoring at other locations in the oilfields of Manitoba.

Monitoring was undertaken for sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide at selected communities in southwestern Manitoba. The monitoring was conducted during various time periods between June 2000 and July 2001 in Virden, Pierson, Waskada and Deloraine.

The sulphur dioxide levels were largely undetectable and well below Manitoba air quality objectives. Hydrogen sulphide was detected, on occasion, at all sites and most frequently at the Virden location. Virden was also the site with the only two exceedances of the Manitoba ambient air quality guideline for hydrogen sulphide of 11 parts per billion averaged over a hour.

For additional details, download the full report in Acrobat .pdf format.  

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Additional information about Air Quality in Manitoba can be obtained from:

» Manitoba Conservation Air Quality Section, (204) 945-7100
» Conservation & Environment Library On-line Database