Air quality in the region got better in 2007 despite an increasing population, according to a staff report going to the Tuesday (June 10) Metro Vancouver environment and energy committee.

The Metro Vancouver eight-hour and the federal one-hour objectives for ground-level ozone (smog) was exceeded during a single summertime smog event last June, the report states.

"Peak ozone layers were lower than what has been observed in recent years, which resulted in no air quality advisories being issued," the report notes.

However, it adds that reducing ozone concentrations remain a problem in the Lower Fraser Valley.  

Smog is created by a chemical reaction when sunlight combines with emissions from vehicle tailpipes. The ozone plume from the western part of the region drifts into the valley.

The report also states that there have been significant improvements over the past two decades in Metro Vancouver levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter.

Sulphur levels dropped because of cleaner fuels and the closure of several refineries. The report attributed lower carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxides to better vehicle-emission standards and the AirCare program.