Ontario Medical Ontario Medical Association Smog-Association Smog-Health Workshop?Health Workshop?

John WellnerJohn Wellner

Director, Health Policy, OMADirector, Health Policy, OMA

What is smog?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 Health Effects of Air PollutionPollution

Very well documented Cardiac & Very well documented Cardiac & Respiratory impactsRespiratory impacts

Pyramid of health effects - ranging Pyramid of health effects - ranging from minor illness to premature from minor illness to premature deathdeath

Immediate and long-term effectsImmediate and long-term effects

Chronic EffectsChronic Effects The Netherlands Respiratory StudyThe Netherlands Respiratory Study (Janssen et al. 2003) (Janssen et al. 2003)

Traffic density is associated with children’s symptoms and Traffic density is associated with children’s symptoms and lung function decrementslung function decrements

ACS StudyACS Study (Pope et al. 2004) (Pope et al. 2004)8-18% increase in ischemic heart disease, dysrrhythmias, 8-18% increase in ischemic heart disease, dysrrhythmias, heart failure and cardiac arrest for an increase in 10mg/mheart failure and cardiac arrest for an increase in 10mg/m33 in in PMPM2.52.5

Children’s Health Study in CaliforniaChildren’s Health Study in California (Gaudemann et al. (Gaudemann et al. 2004). 2004).

PMPM2.52.5, NO, NO22 acid vapour and elemental carbon were associated acid vapour and elemental carbon were associated with deficits in lung growth in adolescents from the age of with deficits in lung growth in adolescents from the age of 10-18 years10-18 years

Norwegian Men’s CohortNorwegian Men’s Cohort (Nafstad et al., 2004) (Nafstad et al., 2004) 8% increase in ischemic heart diseases mortality, 11% for 8% increase in ischemic heart diseases mortality, 11% for lung cancer mortality and 16% for respiratory mortality other lung cancer mortality and 16% for respiratory mortality other than lung cancer for a 10mg/mthan lung cancer for a 10mg/m33 in air pollution in air pollution

Smog-Health Studies with Smog-Health Studies with an Ontario focusan Ontario focus

Toronto Public Health – Air Pollution Toronto Public Health – Air Pollution Burden of IllnessBurden of Illness

OMA – Health Effects & Illness Costs OMA – Health Effects & Illness Costs of Air Pollutionof Air Pollution

Health Canada – Eight Cities StudyHealth Canada – Eight Cities Study

OMA Smog-Wise BackgrounderOMA Smog-Wise Backgrounder Information for Seniors Information for Seniors Information for Parents Information for Parents Smog and Your Kids – Myths and Smog and Your Kids – Myths and

RealitiesRealities

http://www.oma.org/Health/Smog/index.ashttp://www.oma.org/Health/Smog/index.aspp

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 2005OMA Illness Costs of Air

Pollution (ICAP)

Examples of Findings

For further questions -For further questions -

My Contact Information:My Contact Information:

john_wellner@oma.orgjohn_wellner@oma.org

416-340-2953 or 416-340-2953 or

800-268-7215 ext. 2953800-268-7215 ext. 2953