The majority of air quality concerns in Edmonton result from refining or burning carbon-based energy sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, diesel, gasoline and even wood. Maintaining good air quality is complex and requires ongoing monitoring, in-depth understanding of meteorology and the sources of emissions.

Point Source Emissions
These are when we can pinpoint or trace the source of emissions back to a particular industry or event such as a forest fire.
Non-point Source Emissions
This is when we have a good idea of what is causing the air pollution but cannot trace it back to one individual source. For example, emissions from transportation (cars and trucks in motion or idling) are considered to be non-point source emissions because collectively, they are polluting the air, but we cannot trace the source to any one vehicle.

Forest Fire Smoke - May 2019
As the climate warms, Edmonton and Alberta are more susceptible to grass and forest fires. Edmonton’s experience with poor air quality tends to be most memorable when smoke from forest fires in Alberta, BC or Saskatchewan drift into the city.