Fort Simpson (May 16/03) - When the dust flies in Fort Simpson it's going to be recorded.

The territorial government's environmental protection branch has installed a dust monitoring device on the roof of the Milton building. The filter will collect dust samples over a 24-hour period one day each week, following a schedule set out by the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network.

The dust samples, to be taken until October, will be sent to the Alberta Research Council for analysis.

The data will then be compared to the NWT and national air quality standards for dust.

"It's a snapshot of what's going on," said John McKay, an environmental technologist based in Yellowknife. "The bottom line is that it's never been looked at."

Ken Lambert, regional environmental protection officer, will change the filter every six days.

He said the data will show how dust levels fluctuate throughout the summer and in relation to dry spells, wet periods and forest fires.

Sand that blows in from the beaches and sand bars along the rivers will likely factor in the results as well, Lambert noted.

Graham Veale, air quality programs co-ordinator, said the $9,000 instrument was designated for Fort Simpson primarily because there's an employee in town to tend to it.

"(Fort Simpson) isn't thought to have any worse (dust) problems than anywhere else," Veale noted, adding that the device could be moved to another community next year.

A more extensive air-monitoring system has been operating in Yellowknife for several years.

Excessive dust levels are still detected there during the spring when road dust accumulates.

However, the city of Yellowknife has helped to improve the situation by getting its street sweepers out sooner and regularly, according to Veale.