Ontario Medical
Association Smog-Health
Workshop?
John Wellner
Director, Health Policy, OMA
What is smog?
•A mixture of air pollutants, dominated
by ground-level ozone (O3) and fine
particulate matter (PM2.5).
•Ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides
and volatile organic compounds react in
the presence of sunlight.
•Fine particulate matter is primarily
formed from chemical reactions in the
atmosphere and through fuel
combustion.
Health Effects of Air Pollution
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Very well documented Cardiac &
Respiratory impacts
Pyramid of health effects - ranging from
minor illness to premature death
Immediate and long-term effects
Chronic Effects
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The Netherlands Respiratory Study (Janssen et al. 2003)
Traffic density is associated with children’s symptoms and lung
function decrements
ACS Study (Pope et al. 2004)
8-18% increase in ischemic heart disease, dysrrhythmias, heart
failure and cardiac arrest for an increase in 10mg/m3 in PM2.5
Children’s Health Study in California (Gaudemann et al. 2004).
PM2.5, NO2 acid vapour and elemental carbon were associated
with deficits in lung growth in adolescents from the age of 1018 years
Norwegian Men’s Cohort (Nafstad et al., 2004)
8% increase in ischemic heart diseases mortality, 11% for lung
cancer mortality and 16% for respiratory mortality other than
lung cancer for a 10mg/m3 in air pollution
Smog-Health Studies with an
Ontario focus
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Toronto Public Health – Air Pollution
Burden of Illness
OMA – Health Effects & Illness Costs of Air
Pollution
Health Canada – Eight Cities Study
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OMA Smog-Wise Backgrounder
Information for Seniors
Information for Parents
Smog and Your Kids – Myths and Realities
http://www.oma.org/Health/Smog/index.asp
Smog and Your Kids – Myths and Realities
Smog Myth #1 - It is always better for your children to ride their
bikes rather than get a drive on smoggy days.
Health Reality - The longer your children ride outside, the bigger the
dose of pollution to which they are exposed. Extended bike rides, much
like any other strenuous exercise, will put children at greater risk.
Smog Myth #3 - It is only during a smog alert that air pollution
can be dangerous to my kids.
Health Reality - Many children, especially asthmatics, feel the impact
of pollution at levels well below the smog alert level.
Myths and Realities – cont’d
Smog Myth #4 - Since running the air conditioner will
contribute to pollution, everyone should turn theirs off.
Health Reality- Although air conditioners do contribute to
smog, they are also an important defence against the
combined effects of heat and pollution. It is very important to
keep your children cool, especially if they are suffering from the
effects of bad air.
Regional Data for 2005
OMA Illness Costs of Air
Pollution (ICAP)
Examples of Findings
For further questions -
My Contact Information:
john_wellner@oma.org
416-340-2953 or
800-268-7215 ext. 2953