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Abstract

Black carbon (BlCa), a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is emitted from wood stoves, fireplaces, and vehicles and poses notable health risks. While fixed-site monitoring is widely used to track these pollutants, mobile monitoring has emerged as a cost-effective method for capturing variations in BlCa and PM2.5 concentrations. This approach has become common in local air quality research; however, many towns in British Columbia use wood stoves for heating and still lack adequate pollution monitoring. To address this monitoring disparity, this project was conducted in collaboration with the Society for Atmosphere Solutions (SAS), a British Columbia-based organization dedicated to improving air quality monitoring. Expanding upon a previous study, we aimed to quantify levels of BlCa and PM2.5 in Sechelt, British Columbia. In January 2025, a three-night mobile monitoring campaign was performed using an aethalometer to measure BlCa and a nephelometer to measure PM2.5. Based on six monitoring runs, we examined spatial and temporal variability in pollutant concentrations and identified locations with particularly elevated levels of BlCa and PM2.5. BlCa concentrations in the evening were generally higher than at night, likely reflecting increased human activity. This observation is consistent with results from the previous year. The geographic distribution, pollution severity, and areas of concern for BlCa and PM2.5 will inform SAS’s municipal policy advocacy, future research, and Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program.