Air Pollution & Your Health
No matter who you are, where you live or the state of your health, the quality of the air you breathe each day affects you. Even when you can't see it or smell it, air pollution can still be a threat. In a study of eight major Canadian cities, Health Canada found that approximately 5,900 deaths per year could be attributed to air pollution.
The Air Quality Health Index was developed as a public health tool to help you make informed decisions to better protect yourself and those under your care. Check the AQHI in your community regularly. If you have concerns about the effects of air pollution on your health, consult your health care provider.
Click on the questions below for more information on air pollution and health.
How does air pollution affect your health and the health of your family?
How do you know if you are at risk?
What can you do to protect your health and that of your family?
What types of air pollution does the new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) include?
What is air pollution?
Air pollution is a broad term applied to all chemical and biological agents that change the natural characteristics of the atmosphere causing harm to health or the environment. Air pollution comes from many different sources (i.e. factories, cars, windblown dust, smoke from wood stoves and backyard burning as well as forces of nature such as forest fires) that release a wide variety of pollutants affecting air quality.
How does air pollution affect your health?
There are many different types of air pollutants. How air pollution affects your health is determined by the length of time you are exposed , your health status and genetic makeup, and the concentration of pollutants. Air pollution can have a negative effect on your respiratory system ( lungs and airways ) and on your cardiovascular system ( heart function and blood circulation) by;
- making it harder to breath,
- irritating your respiratory system,
- triggering episodes of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD); chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
- triggering episodes of heart conditions (angina, heart attack, heart failure and heart rhythm problems).
Of course, each individual will react differently to air pollution. Groups that are especially sensitive or at-risk to the adverse health effects of air pollution include children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing cardiac or respiratory diseases such as coronary artery disease (angina or heart attack), heart rhythm problems, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, to name a few. Diabetics also appear to be at greater risk, probably because of the relationship of diabetes with heart disease.
Negative health effects increase as air pollution worsens. Studies have shown that even modest increases in air pollution can cause small but measurable increases in emergency room visits, hospitals admissions and death. In fact, it has been shown that even small increases in air pollution levels for a short period of time can exacerbate illness among sensitive or at-risk people.
How do you know if you are at risk? Click here for a guide to help determine if you are at risk
Some illnesses increase the impact of air pollutants. These include people with respiratory disease (e.g. asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.), cardiovascular disease ( e.g. angina, history of heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmia, etc.), and diabetes (because of its relationship with heart disease).
Children
Not only do children have less developed respiratory systems, but they also inhale more air per kilogram of body weight compared to adults. Children also tend to be more exposed to air pollution because they spend more time outdoors being physically active.
The Elderly
Seniors may also be at increased risk, not simply because of their age, but because seniors are more likely than other adults to have health problems such as heart and lung disease.
General Population
Even healthy people may have difficulty breathing when air pollution levels are high especially those who work or exercise outside.
What can you do to protect my health and that of your family?
You can better protect yourself and those you care about when you understand how air pollution affects your health and when you are aware what the air quality is in your community. Visit this website often if you live in one of the pilot communities in British Columbia and use the Air Quality Health Index to make decisions regarding your daily outdoor activity levels.
What types of air pollution does the new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) include?
The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of a combination of common air pollutants which are known to harm human health. These pollutants include:
- Ozone at ground level,
- Fine Particulate Matter also known as PM2.5 and PM10. These are microscopic solid or liquid particles.
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
For information about the pilot project, click here.
For information about the AQHI scale and categories, click here.
If you have concerns about the effects of air pollution on your health, consult your health care provider.
For more information on web resources, click here.
