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Fine particle air pollution (PM2.5)

Area: Victoria Topaz air station 2022–2024 (three-year average)

6.1 µg/m³, annual

In a year Better−6.2% vs 2021–2023
In 3 years Better−20.8% since 2019
Against the standard (8.8)2.7 under

National standard. Targets and comparisons

Source: Province of B.C.. We read it on Nov 12, 2026.

Check this numberOpen the agency’s data file (agency site)

Over time

Time range

Fine particles, annual metric (three-year average), Victoria Topaz

2024 Μg/m³, by year

  • 6.1 µg/m³

National standard

Line chart, 6 periods from 2019 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 7.7 µg/m³ (2019), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 6.1 µg/m³ (2024). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420222020Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.17.77.92019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 6 periods from 2019 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 7.7 µg/m³ (2019), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 6.1 µg/m³ (2024). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420222020Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.17.77.92019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 6 periods from 2019 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 7.7 µg/m³ (2019), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 6.1 µg/m³ (2024). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420232022202120202019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.17.77.96.57.07.12019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 6 periods from 2019 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 7.7 µg/m³ (2019), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 6.1 µg/m³ (2024). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420232022202120202019Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.17.77.96.57.07.12019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year. Each point is the three-year period ending that year.

P provincial election: Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024

About these ticks

Fine particles, annual metric (three-year average), Victoria Topaz

2024 Μg/m³, by year

  • 6.1 µg/m³

National standard

Line chart, 11 periods from 2014 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.4 µg/m³ (2014), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.05102024202120182015Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.47.92014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 11 periods from 2014 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.4 µg/m³ (2014), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.05102024202120182015Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.47.95.52014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 11 periods from 2014 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.4 µg/m³ (2014), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420222020201820162014Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.47.95.56.57.07.17.76.75.86.52014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 11 periods from 2014 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.4 µg/m³ (2014), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.051020242023202220212020201920182017201620152014Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.47.95.56.57.07.17.76.75.86.52014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year. Each point is the three-year period ending that year.

P provincial election: May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024

About these ticks

Fine particles, annual metric (three-year average), Victoria Topaz

2024 Μg/m³, by year

  • 6.1 µg/m³

National standard

Line chart, 12 periods from 2013 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.9 µg/m³ (2013), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 14, 2013; May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420202016Provincial election, May 14, 2013Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.97.95.52013: Victoria Topaz: 6.9 µg/m³2014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 12 periods from 2013 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.9 µg/m³ (2013), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 14, 2013; May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.05102024202120182015Provincial election, May 14, 2013Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.97.95.52013: Victoria Topaz: 6.9 µg/m³2014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 12 periods from 2013 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.9 µg/m³ (2013), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 14, 2013; May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420222020201820162014Provincial election, May 14, 2013Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.97.95.56.57.07.17.76.75.86.56.42013: Victoria Topaz: 6.9 µg/m³2014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³
Line chart, 12 periods from 2013 to 2024. Victoria Topaz: starts at 6.9 µg/m³ (2013), ends at 6.1 µg/m³ (2024); highest 7.9 µg/m³ (2020), lowest 5.5 µg/m³ (2016). A grey dotted step line marks the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, annual metric (national standard, applied by the Province): 8.8 from 2020 to 2024. Short ticks on the top edge mark general election days: Provincial election: May 14, 2013; May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024. Every value is in the table.0510202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013Provincial election, May 14, 2013Provincial election, May 9, 2017Provincial election, Oct 24, 2020Provincial election, Oct 19, 20246.16.97.95.56.57.07.17.76.75.86.56.42013: Victoria Topaz: 6.9 µg/m³2014: Victoria Topaz: 6.4 µg/m³2015: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2016: Victoria Topaz: 5.5 µg/m³2017: Victoria Topaz: 5.8 µg/m³2018: Victoria Topaz: 6.7 µg/m³2019: Victoria Topaz: 7.7 µg/m³2020: Victoria Topaz: 7.9 µg/m³2021: Victoria Topaz: 7.1 µg/m³2022: Victoria Topaz: 7.0 µg/m³2023: Victoria Topaz: 6.5 µg/m³2024: Victoria Topaz: 6.1 µg/m³

Tap or drag on the chart to read any year. Each point is the three-year period ending that year.

P provincial election: May 14, 2013; May 9, 2017; Oct 24, 2020; Oct 19, 2024

About these ticks

Targets and comparisons

Professional standard or official estimate, not a government commitment

How targets are chosen

Show the numbers as a table
Fine particles, annual metric (three-year average), Victoria Topaz (newest first)
PeriodVictoria Topaz
20246.1
20236.5
20227.0
20217.1
20207.9
20197.7
20186.7
20175.8
20165.5
20156.5
20146.4
20136.9

Who decides

Province of B.C. Prohibits putting waste into the environment in a way that causes pollution, and permits industrial emissions. Environmental Management Act, s. 6 (4)

Show the law and the dates
Who decides what: Fine particle air pollution (PM2.5)
BodyWhat it decidesLaw or bylaw
Province of B.C.Prohibits putting waste into the environment in a way that causes pollution, and permits industrial emissions.Environmental Management Act, s. 6 (4)

No government decides this directly. Wildfire smoke, traffic and wood heating also decide it.

Province: last general election October 19, 2024; next set for October 21, 2028 unless called earlier (Constitution Act, s. 23).

Each row says what a body decides and links to the law, order or bylaw that gives it that role. It does not say who caused a change: markets, households and other governments also move these numbers. Who decides what, for every measure · How we choose

What this number does not show

  • The annual metric is the average, over three years, of each year’s mean concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) at the station, as the Province calculates it for the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards.
One more limit
  • These are the ambient values, including days with wildfire smoke. The Province also publishes values with smoke days removed, used for air zone management.

Not measured yet in environment: tree canopy. See all 18 gaps

In plain words

Down 6.2% in a year. Down 21% since 2019.

The annual concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) at the Province’s Victoria Topaz air station, averaged over three years, next to the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard.

How we decide “Better”

The change is 6.2% of the earlier value, at or above the 5% threshold.

Lower levels mean cleaner air. 6.1 µg/m³ for 2022–2024 against 6.5 for 2021–2023 (annual metric: three-year average of each year’s mean). The national standard is 8.8 or lower (status: Achieved). 24-hour metric: 14 against a standard of 27.

Outcome measures read Better, Worse or About the same; published government targets read Ahead of, On or Behind target; value-judgement measures read Rising, Falling or Steady in a neutral colour. A change smaller than the agency's own margin of error, or otherwise smaller than 5% of the earlier value, is About the same (or Steady). No change is calculated across a marked break in a series. The rule.

All notes on this number

Why it matters. Fine particles harm the lungs and heart. Wildfire smoke now drives most bad air days.

  • The annual metric is the average, over three years, of each year’s mean concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) at the station, as the Province calculates it for the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards.
  • These are the ambient values, including days with wildfire smoke. The Province also publishes values with smoke days removed, used for air zone management.
  • One station: Victoria Topaz. A stricter standard (8.0 µg/m³ annual, 23 for 24 hours) applies from the 2027-2030 reporting period.

Which places

Area: Victoria Topaz air station

The Province’s Victoria Topaz air quality monitoring station, near Topaz Park in the City of Victoria.

Included

  • Air measured at the Victoria Topaz station

Not included

  • Other stations in the region, such as Colwood City Hall

Official definition

How the agency describes it: Victoria Topaz air monitoring station (Province of B.C.).

How we got it

This number is published by the agency as shown; it is not calculated here. The script reads it from the agency’s own file.

Licence and credits

Published under an open licence: anyone may reuse it with credit. About licences.

Updated by agency
Yearly (Province of B.C. environmental reporting); latest release Jun 18, 2026
Retrieved
Nov 12, 2026, 10:30 PM B.C. time

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – British Columbia.

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