Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
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Annual sector air quality index statistics for 2012

Air quality varied considerably across the 17 urban sectors in which the AQI is calculated. In 2011, the percentage of days when air quality was “poor” ranged from 2% in Saguenay (University sector), to 31% in Témiscaming.

In comparison with 2011, the total number of days where air quality was deemed “poor*”, all sectors combined, increased by 2%, while “good” air quality days decreased by 3%. The number of days where air quality was deemed “acceptable” increased by 3%. Despite these variations, the AQI sector statistics for 2012 are similar to those observed since 2004.

It is important to note that unlike regional statistics, which are based on uniform measurements of fine particulate matter and ozone, sector statistics may include measurements of a pollutant emitted locally that is not detected at the regional level. As a result, the AQI value for a particular sector may be different from that of its region.

Local sources of atmospheric emissions affecting a sector’s AQI can vary from one location to another.

* Air quality is deemed “poor” when at least one station in the region reports a concentration of fine particulate matter greater than 35 µg/m3 (over a three-hour period), or an hourly concentration of ozone greater than 82 ppb.

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