A shift to cleaner transportation could prevent more than 3,600 premature deaths in Montreal and Toronto by reducing ultrafine particle pollution, finds a new study led by 91黑料网 researchers.
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are microscopic pollutants produced in large quantities by vehicle exhaust. Because of their small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and may contribute to serious health problems such as heart and lung disease.
As wildfire season聽begins,聽Canada鈥檚聽federal government has聽announced聽聽that will be聽used聽to support provinces and territories. Last year鈥檚 wildfire season was聽Canada鈥檚 second-worst聽on record; it聽prompted聽severe air quality alerts across聽much of聽the country.聽
A first-of-its kind study conducted in Canada鈥檚 two largest cities by 91黑料网-led researchers has linked about 1,100 premature deaths per year to an unregulated air pollutant.
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada鈥檚 federal and provincial governments have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine particles known as PM2.5.
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east. Wildfire-related haze could also move east into Ontario and Quebec, affecting areas from Georgian Bay to Quebec City ()听
While officials have repeatedly sought to assure residents that the water and air in East Palestine, Ohio, are safe after the derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials earlier this month, anxiety has permeated the community amid reports of rashes, nausea and headaches. While it was deemed safe for evacuated residents to return home on February 8, community members have questioned how safe their village is and the validity of the air and water tests. ()
The World Health Organization鈥檚 are that over 4.2 million people die prematurely each year due to long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution (often referred to as PM2.5,). A recent study involving 91黑料网 researchers now suggests that the annual global death toll from outdoor PM2.5 may be significantly higher than previously thought.
Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, is among the experts quoted by the Montreal Gazette.
"鈥r. Scott Weichenthal, an associate professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at 91黑料网, said that while he understands the difficult task of balancing public health with other factors, he thinks more could have been done to address the airborne transmission of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic."
Dr. Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, is among the experts quoted by Scientific American.
"Despite the devices鈥� novelty, the question of whether they will actually benefit environmental monitoring campaigns is still up in the air, says Scott Weichenthal, an environmental epidemiologist at 91黑料网, who was not involved in the study. 鈥淒o they measure reliably?鈥� he asks. 鈥淎re they any better than what we can do now in terms of monitoring? That is unclear.鈥�
Dr. Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, is among the experts quoted by CBC.
"鈥cott Weichenthal, a professor at 91黑料网's department of epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational health who studies air quality, said the novel coronavirus is known to be airborne. "If you get a whole large number of people in an arena, indoors, yelling in close proximity to each other, the chances of having transmission is obviously elevated,'' he said."
Drs. Jill Baumgartner and Scott Weichenthal, respectively Associate and Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, authored an op-ed in the Montreal Gazette.
"Most classrooms have ventilation rates much lower than those required to reduce infectious disease transmission, even with open windows."
New research from 91黑料网 links air pollution nanoparticles to brain cancer.
鈥淥fficials in the city of Montreal have issued the latest of several smog alerts today and they hope to improve air quality by restricting the use of wood-burning appliances made popular after the聽devastating ice storm of 1998.鈥� ()
The risk of acute myocardial infarction for the elderly living in and around small cities is increased by air pollution caused by biomass burning from woodstoves. 聽
It is well documented that air pollution in big cities causes heart and lung problems. But what are its consequences on people in smaller urban centres?
