For the first time the city will have constant, real time information on the quality of its air.

The Department of Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and the federal government installed a new monitoring system outside Sir John Franklin high school as part of the National Air Pollution Surveillance program.

Graham Veale, air quality program director at RWED, said the station will read carbon monoxide, ground level ozone and fine particulate levels in the city.

"Hopefully it's a good news story," he said.

Veale said he used to work in the Fraser Valley in British Columbia where the air quality problem was more acute.

"I certainly don't think Yellowknife is at that stage."

It has long been speculated that cold weather car idling and the seasonal jump in heating fuel consumption taints the quality of Yellowknife air.

Veale said it's possible the cold weather presents some air quality problems.

"The cold brings stagnant air, air without a lot of movement, but at this point it's pure speculation whether our air quality drops in winter."

He said poor air quality in some parts of Canada has been linked to a range of health problems -- from increased coughing to premature death.

Doug Ritchie of Ecology North welcomed the news.

"The first step in taking action is knowing what's out there," he said.

Ritchie, an environmental watchdog and vocal critic of car idlers, said people should be paying more attention to the health and environmental impact poor air quality can have.

"Poor air quality does impact us," he said. "We shouldn't think that just because we live in the middle of the Northwest Territories we're breathing clean air."

"Air pollution locally and globally has an impact on our health."

John McKay, RWED air quality technologist, said he will allow Sir John students access to the information and equipment as part of their curriculum.

"That was part of the idea of locating it so close to the school," he said. "It will be a great educational opportunity."

Similar monitoring stations will be set up in Inuvik, Norman Wells and Fort Liard to monitor air quality problems associated with the oil and gas industries.