The Ontario Ministry of Environment monitors air pollution levels and issues smog advisories when there is a strong likelihood that widespread elevated and persistent smog levels are expected. The number of smog advisory days is known to have a negative impact on breathing, especially for the elderly, young children and those with respiratory problems The worst period of time was from 2002 to 2007 in the number of days reaching its peak of 53 days in 2005, with 25 advisories being issued. A summary of advisories and total number of days in smog advisories recorded since 1995 is presented here:
Table 3.3
| 199519961997
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 |
6 advisories3 advisories3 advisories
3 advisories 5 advisories 3 advisories 7 advisories 10 advisories
|
14 days5 days6 days
8 days 9 days 4 days 23 days 27 days
|
200320042005
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 |
7 advisories8 advisories15 advisories
6 advisories 13 advisories 8 advisories 3 advisories 3 advisories 3 advisories |
19 days20 days53 days
17 days 39 days 17 days 5 days 12 days 6 days |
Up to July 21, 2011 http://www.airqualityontario.com/press/smog_advisories.php
Figure 3.10
Figure 3.11
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA), using the Illness Costs of Air Pollution (ICAP) found in 2007 more than 1,000 of 9,500 premature deaths took place in periods during and immediately after periods of high air pollution. The OMA identified 425 deaths inNiagara after these high pollution periods. Niagara was in the top 5 regions inOntario in numbers related to premature deaths in these periods and many of those regions were much larger than Niagara (i.e. Hamilton-Wentworth, 445; Ottawa-Carleton, 503;York 590; and Peel 700 days).
Source: http://www.newswire.ca/fr/releases/archive/June2008/06/c9192.html.
