Air shouldn't kill
Sunday July 6 2008 Breathing is something most of us take for granted. For some with chronic cardiac or respiratory conditions, being outside and active during the worst smog days of summer can be a life-or-death proposition.
With each passing year, the number of premature deaths linked to exposure to our polluted air grows more staggering.
According to a recent Ontario Medical Association (OMA) report, smog contributes to the premature deaths of 9,500 residents in the province each year. More than 1,000 of these Ontario deaths occur during or immediately after periods of increased pollution, while the rest can be attributed to long-term, lifetime exposure to air pollutants.
In 2001, 58 asthma hospitalizations were attributed to air pollution.
“The numbers reinforce the fact that the problem of smog is not confined to cities and industrial centres,” said Dr. Ken Arnold, president of the OMA. “A staggering number of premature deaths attributed to pollution were found across Ontario, showing that less-urban areas can be equally, and sometimes even more affected by smog than larger cities.”
OMA doctors want patients to be prepared this summer so they can take the proper steps to protect their own health. On days when air pollution is high, it is recommended to:
• reduce strenuous outdoor activities
• drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated
• stay in a cool, clean, air-conditioned environment
• speak to your physician about how best to manage your condition.
To help track smog levels federal (www.airhealth.ca) and provincial (www.airqualityontario.com) government websites provide pollution monitoring programs that offer current and predicted pollution counts for specific geographical regions.

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