Position
Air Pollution from various sources causes significant preventable morbidity and mortality. The most recent estimate for 2005 by the Ontario Medical Association forecasts 5800 premature deaths and 60,000 emergency room visits with poor air quality in Ontario alone. Federal, provincial and local governments have a responsibility to take action to improve air quality through strong regulations on emissions and manufacturing, fostering collaborative research and strategic planning, facilitating the adoption of clean and renewable sources of power and promoting conscientious consumption.
Resolutions
None Active.
Status:
alPHa to continue monitoring the issue
July 31, 2007: alPHa Comments on EBR posting of Draft Coal Closure Regulation
Further Reading:
Information on the Shared Air Summit, June 20, 2005
This meeting gathered politicians, researchers, environmentalists, physicians, authors, public health professionals and others to begin a discourse on tackling the shared problem of air pollution. Speakers included Premier Dalton McGuinty (who hosted the event), Dr. David Suzuki, Gov. George Pataki (R-New York) - via video message, Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ray Anderson (CEO, Interface Inc. and a central figure of the documentary, "The Corporation") and many others. The common message was that something needs to be done to improve air quality, and it makes good environmental, health and economic sense to do it. Please click here for the Shared Air Web site.
Transboundary Air Pollution in Ontario
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment report (June 2005) that provides a review of the impacts of transboundary air pollution. While responsibility is taken for Ontario's contribution, the report concludes that emissions from U.S. sources are the dominant factor in Ontario's air quality during the May-Septemaber "smog season". Please click here to download the report.
The Illness Costs of Air Pollution
Air pollution in Ontario will result in almost 5,800 premature deaths this year and cost the province almost a billion dollars, according to the latest report from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). Please click here to download the report. The page contains other material as well, including the modelling software used as evidence.
The technical report that explains the foundations for the revisions can be downloaded here, and the general OMA smog resource page can be viewed here
The Built Environment
Reports on the detrimental effects of urban sprawl and the loss of greenspace on individual and community health are beginning to materialize, countering the conventional belief that living in dense urban environments is less healthy than living in low-density suburbs. Car dependency is consistently identified as a major contributor to ill health in low-density areas, as it contributes to poor air quality and reduces motivation for physical activity. Please follow the links below for more information on the built environment as a determinant of health:
Please click here to read the Ontario College of Family Physicians' Report on Public Health and Urban Sprawl.
