In analyzing air pollution and mortality data from eight Canadian cities (Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Calgary and Vancouver), Health Canada estimates 5,900 deaths per year in these cities can be attributed to air pollution.

Scientists conducted health studies and used complex statistical models to estimate the number of deaths associated with air pollution.  Unlike the previous estimate of 5,000 deaths, the new estimate considers short and long-term health effects of air pollution and assumes a background level of air pollution. Learn more.

Other studies have shown that air pollution can also lead to increased hospital admissions, more emergency room visits, and higher rates of absenteeism.

Your reaction to air pollutants depends on the type of pollutants you're exposed to, your overall health, your genetics, and the amount of exposure. People who exercise outdoors, for example, on hot, smoggy days increase their exposure to pollutants in the air.

The elderly, people with existing respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and children are particularly vulnerable. Health effects caused by air pollutants may range from subtle physiological changes to difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions. These effects can result in increased medication use, increased doctor or emergency room visits, more hospital admissions and even premature death.

Children are often at increased risk from exposure to toxic substances because they are not fully developed and can be more susceptible to injury. Greater air intake relative to body weight, compared with adults, also increases a child's potential for excessive exposure to air pollution.

New studies indicate that genetic differences may play a significant role in how individuals react to poor air quality. The variability in the respiratory effects of poor air quality in healthy and asthmatic people suggests genetics may predispose some people to harmful effects.

Health Canada and air quality

Health Canada is the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. Among their many activities, they set out to explore and understand the impacts of poor air quality on human health. In doing so, they conduct fundamental research and risk assessments and synthesize existing scientific information on various air pollutants that harm outdoor and indoor air quality.

Health Canada’s science serves as a basis for strategies that aim to improve air quality, such as the Canada-U.S. Border Air Quality Strategy and Canada’s Clean Air Agenda.  The science also informs the Canadian public about actions they can take to reduce air pollution and their risk of being negatively affected.

Related Links

• Canada Health Portal
• Health Canada - Health and Air Quality Website
• Health Canada - Smog and your health
• Healthy Spaces (Kids and Environmental Contaminants)
• Canadian Public Health Association
• Canadian Institute for Child Health
• Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
• The Lung Association
• Ontario Medical Association - Smog
• New Brunswick Lung Association
• World Health Organization (WHO) - Protection of the Human Environment (PHE)
• Climate Change, Air Pollution and Health Research Network
• Study supports improvements to Mexican air quality standards