Ontario Medical Association Smog-Health Workshop?

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Ontario Medical Association Smog-Health Workshop?

• John Wellner
• Director, Health Policy, OMA

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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.

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Health Effects of Air Pollution

• Very well documented Cardiac Respiratory
  impacts
• Pyramid of health effects - ranging from minor
  illness to premature death
• Immediate and long-term effects

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Chronic Effects

• The Netherlands Respiratory Study (Janssen et al.
  2003)
• Traffic density is associated with childrens
  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
• Childrens 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 10-18 years
• Norwegian Mens 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

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Smog-Health Studies with an Ontario focus

• 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

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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.
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Myths and Realities contd 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.
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• Regional Data for 2005
• OMA Illness Costs of Air Pollution (ICAP)
• Examples of Findings

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For further questions -

• My Contact Information
• john_wellner_at_oma.org
• 416-340-2953 or
• 800-268-7215 ext. 2953