ACT Canada Sustainable Mobility &
Healthy Communities Summit 2014
Reducing Health
Impacts of Air Pollution:
Investing in Active
Transportation
Infrastructure
Stephanie Gower
Toronto Public Health
Co-authors: Ronald Macfarlane,
Marco Belmont, Kate Bassil, Monica
Campbell
December 2, 2014
Health Impacts of Air Pollution
• Air pollution
harms our health
• Our transportation
systems affect our
air quality
Health Impacts of Air Pollution
• Air pollution in Toronto from all sources currently
gives rise to 1,300 premature deaths and 3,550
hospitalizations annually
• This represents a decrease of 23% in premature
deaths and 41% in hospitalizations as compared
with 2004 estimates
Prepared by: Toronto Public Health
Health Impacts of Local Air Pollution
• Traffic is the most
significant local source
of air pollution and
resulting burden of
illness
• Other sources also
contribute to the
overall burden of
illness from air
pollution
Premature Deaths
Hospitalizations
Pyramid of Health Effects from
Traffic-Related Air Pollution
Commuting Trends
Active Transportation
Key Policy Recommendations
• City Council requested the
Province of Ontario to:
– fund municipal transit and
active transportation
infrastructure to reduce air
pollution emissions in Toronto
and the GTHA;
– ensure that all Metrolinx "Big
Move" projects incorporate
safe infrastructure for
pedestrians and cyclists to
encourage travel that reduces
air pollution emissions;
Status of provincial commitments
Provincial commitments have been
strong…
….these are long-term commitments and it
will be a while before we understand the
details and how money will actually be
spent to support transit and active
transportation infrastructure
Response from the Province: Transit
Photo Credit: Michael Day
• $8.4 billion in
provincial
funding for
Toronto rapid
transit projects
• $15 billion
commitment to
transit and
transportation in
the GTHA
Source: Government of Ontario (2014 budget)
Response from the Province and Metrolinx:
Active Transportation Infrastructure
• Metrolinx guidelines
to facilitate active
transportation near
major transit stations
• Eglinton redesign
• $25 million from MTO
for municipal and
provincial cycling
infrastructure
Year
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
Year
Year
Annual average O3
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
2012
2011
2010
2009
1.0
2008
Year
2007
Annual average CO
2006
Year
Annual average PM2.5
0.9
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
0.0
2003
0.5
2005
1.0
2002
1.5
2001
2.0
2004
2.5
2000
4.5
2003
3.0
1999
3.5
Concentration of NO2 (ppb)
5.0
2002
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
Concentration of SO2 (ppb)
Annual Average SO2
Concentration of PM2.5 (mg/m3)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
• Levels since 2009
have stagnated or
may be increasing
Concentration of CO (ppm)
• Most pollutants
show steady
decline since 2000
Concentration of O3 (ppb)
Toronto Air Quality Over Time
Annual average NO2
35.0
4.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Actions make a Difference
Canada-Wide
Standards for
Particulate Matter
and Ozone
Photo: Hmvh1
Sustainable transportation co-benefits
Photo credit: Karen Stintz, via Flickr
More Information
sgower@toronto.ca
www.toronto.ca/health/reports