The Ontario Environment Ministry says air quality is steadily improving across the province, including in Sarnia-Lambton.
In Sarnia, there were no smog days in 2015 and air quality was in the low risk category 86% of the time.
Over the last ten years, nitrogen dioxide concentrations are down 23% and sulphur dioxide concentrations are down 64% in the city.
Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in Sarnia have also been decreasing in the last ten years, including a 40% reduction in benzene concentrations and a 74% decrease in concentrations of 1.3-butadiene.
Province-wide, annual averages of fine particulate matter that can cause breathing difficulty (such as aerosols, smoke, fumes, dust and pollen) are down 25%, and air quality has improved significantly over the last ten years.
The ministry says this is due in part to Ontario introducing new industry requirements that lead to reduced emissions, eliminating coal-fired power plants and establishing Drive Clean emissions testing.
