Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the data from the current level page one hour behind in summer?
2. How will these SO₂ levels affect me and/or my family?
3. How can I speak to someone from Inco about current SO₂ levels (within the community of Thompson)?
4. What happens after a complaint is made about the SO₂ level?
5. Is there a limit on the amount of SO2 in the air?

Why is the data from the current level page one hour behind in summer?

All data is time stamped using standard time. During the summer, the computer will run in Daylight Savings Time, but the data will still be reported in Standard Time.

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How will these SO₂ levels affect me and/or my family?

www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/pollutionprevention/airquality/brochures/flinflon.html

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How can I speak to someone from Inco about current SO₂ levels (within the community of Thompson)?

Call the Environmental Hotline @ 778-2888, or click here to send on email

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What happens after a complaint is made about the SO₂ level?

The complaint/concern is received and recorded, and if available, information about our current SO2 producing activities are provided to the concerned party. The SO2 monitors are immediately observed for elevated SO2 levels. If the monitors show elevated SO2 levels, the smelter is then contacted to immediately reduce emissions. If no elevated levels are observed, the mobile SO2 monitoring unit is dispatched to the area where elevated SO2 levels are causing concern. Air quality is then sampled for 10-15 minutes. The mobile unit may then ‘chase’ the plume, sampling air quality for SO2, and maintaining contact with the smelter to determine if a production cutback is necessary.

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Is there a limit on the amount of SO2 in the air?

Yes, there is a provincial limit of 0.34 ppm averaged over 1 hour.  On the current data page, the hourly average is the second number displayed at each station (Hrly Sulphur Dioxide in ppm).  Click here to display the Province of Manitoba’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria Table, this table lists the air quality criteria for several different air quality contaminants.

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