Metro Vancouver rated 'poor' for ozone pollution from wildfires this summer

Metro Vancouver's ozone pollution this summer was rated "poor" according to a global report released Wednesday by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, which analyzed satellite data on ground-level ozone across the planet.

Nearly half the world's population — about 40 per cent — was exposed to harmful ozone levels in 2026, largely driven by wildfire smoke and heat. The rating scale runs from good (under 60 µg/m³) through fair, moderate, poor, very poor, and extremely poor (over 110 µg/m³). Parts of the Pacific Northwest rated even worse, classified as "very poor."

Asia experienced the highest ozone exposures globally, with about 60 per cent of its population exposed to extremely poor levels and 90 per cent facing poor or worse conditions. North America and Europe followed.

Stephanie Cleland, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University's faculty of health sciences, said there is no safe level of wildfire smoke exposure. "Even if they can't see or they can't smell it, it can still pose a health risk," Cleland said, noting that the air quality health index might classify some exposure levels as low risk despite measurable effects.

Long-term health risks from wildfire smoke include cognitive decline, dementia, and respiratory and cardiovascular-related mortality. Cleland emphasized that "many people are being exposed to that long-range transport smoke… and once it gets into urban centres, millions of people are exposed." She added that wildfire smoke can affect cognitive performance and mental health.

Mark Parrington, a senior climate scientist on the Copernicus analysis, said ozone has been an issue during heat waves but is now compounded by emissions from climate-fueled mega wildfires. "When you have fires, they get a lot of organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter… Ozone is a secondary pollutant. It's produced chemically with sunlight, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds."