Metro Vancouver says stench from Burnaby refinery didn't breach air quality limits

Metro Vancouver says an acrid odour that blanketed parts of the region on Sunday contained elevated contaminant levels, but didn't breach pollution standards.

The regional district says it monitors emissions of particulates, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide from the Parkland fuel refinery in Burnaby, and air quality objectives for the contaminants weren't exceeded.

However, the air quality update says sulphur dioxide levels were higher than normal.

The Government of Canada says sulphur dioxide(SO2)"is a colourless gas that has a strong, stinging odour," and is a "threat to both health and the environment."

"Short-term exposure to high concentrations of SO2 can harm the respiratory system of humans and animals," says agovernment web page. "The risk is higher among people with reduced lung functions, such as those who have asthma."

In Canada, the main sources of elevated concentrations of SO2 in the atmosphere are industrial processes and the burning of fossil fuels.

Metro Vancouver says there were "very few" complaints about odour related to the refinery on Monday, after receiving more than 100 from Vancouver and Burnaby residents on Sunday.

WATCH | Temperature inversion helped spread stink:

Sunday stank in Metro Vancouver. Here's how weather played a role

7 months ago

Duration 1:27

An issue at the Parkland fuel refinery in Burnaby and a 'temperature inversion' over the Lower Mainland were the perfect recipe for an odorous outdoors.

The refinery says it experienced an issue in one of its processing units on Sunday morning, resulting in"temporarily elevated smoke, odours and particulate matter."

It says it informed Burnaby Fire Department and the RCMP, but no injuries were reported.

On Monday, Parkland did not provide any new informationabout what happened at the refinery on Sunday, but said, "we understand that area residents are concerned about air quality."

Letter-writing campaigns

Two online letter-writing campaigns seeking further accountability over the incident are underway.

One asksthe province to conduct an independent investigation into what happened on Sunday, while anotherasks for much the same and is critical over the delay in issuing public information over the incident.

Shawn Vulliez, a podcaster and animatorwho lives in East Vancouver andhas been politically active regarding government transparency in the past, helped organize one of the letters.

Hesaid he has achild under a year in age and stayed inside Sunday.

"At the very least, we just basically need information about what's going on," he said.

"You're having an industrial accident that's filling people'sliving rooms up with the smell of burning tires and making them nauseous and making their eyes water.

"At thevery least, we should know what compounds were being released into those people's homes and into our neighbourhoods where our elders live and where children live."