Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District released an air quality advisory Monday, warning residents to watch for gathering pollution amid the summer heat wave.
Air quality is expected to deteriorate over the week, and residents are asked to minimize the use of their cars and to curtail other emissions-heavy activities.
"If you don't have to drive, don't drive or use a gas powered mower," Laurie Bates-Frymel, an air quality planner with Metro Vancouver, said.
"Anything that contributes to air emissions, avoid those during the heat wave."
Environment Canada's David Jones says the problem is that hot, sunny weather traps smog and pollution.
"In stagnant air the pollutants will build up," Jones said. "The air gets baked and nothing moves."
People with respiratory illnesses and who are otherwise sensitive to changes in air pollution are also being reminded that negative health impacts increase as air quality deteriorates.
The advisory will update daily, and can be found at the B.C. Air Quality website here.
