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Recent wildfires in Canada have cast a dark shadow across the North…
Recent wildfires in Canada have cast a dark shadow across the North American northeast. In an area not used to seeing the sky darkened by smoky haze, many came to a sobering realization: the dangers of air pollution are real. Air quality has deteriorated to concerning levels in metropolitan and non-urban areas, especially during regional wildfire events.
Many may not realize that “air pollution” reflects a catch-all term to describe a multitude of pollutants that exist within our atmosphere. These include gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide ozone, as well as particulate matter pollutants.
Air pollutants have been linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, as well as flare-ups of existing conditions. Their effects transcend the respiratory tract and many air pollutants have been linked to diseases such as heart attacks, pregnancy complications and stroke risk.
Air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for mortality globally, and its regulation is imperative to public health. Unfortunately, over 99 per cent of the world lives in areas with particulate matter levels above the annual recommended limit, according to the World Health Organization. Environmental advocates and policymakers have found success in mitigating air pollution. Many of us grew up learning about the hole in the ozone layer, but probably haven’t heard much about it recently. This is due to the Montreal protocol and the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances, which resulted in the stabilization of the ozone layer since the 2000s. Although our ozone layer remains fragile, this speaks to the effects of strong advocacy and policy making.
Another example is the City of Los Angeles, which had some of the worst air quality in North America. Thanks to the Clean Air Act and later amendments and California regulatory action, air quality levels have improved dramatically, and an estimated 237,000 deaths may have been prevented in California from 1970 to 2020. These regulations were propelled by public advocacy as Californians saw visible effects of air pollution on smog-filled days. California continues to invest in its air quality with a planned transition to electric vehicles by 2035, which will be instrumental in reducing traffic-related pollutants.
Currently, the Exceptional Events rule in the United States means that states are not responsible for adhering to air pollution standards if they are caused by “exceptional” events, including wildfires. However, recent years have shown that wildfires have become frequent enough to question whether they are still “exceptional” or have become the rule. Such events will only get worse without substantive political, legislative, and regulatory action to combat climate change. A preventative rather than reactionary attitude is paramount. In this respect, driving innovation in the clean energy sector is necessary, and governments need to commit more funding and commercial incentives to bring novel solutions to market.
At a personal level, people should monitor local air quality and respond to poor air quality days through measures such as wearing N95 masks, limiting strenuous outdoor activities, or activating air purifiers. This is especially critical for individuals with pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease or other vulnerable groups such as elderly, pregnant, or pediatric populations.
Air pollution will only worsen with increased climate change and human activity. Over time, the damage from air pollution will become increasingly visible. With this summer’s wildfires serving as a premonition of what’s to come, now is the time to push for substantive environmental health policies and industrial regulation to mitigate the public health and environmental costs of our warming world.
Sudarshan Bala MD is a resident physician at the University of British Columbia.Peter Zhang, PharmD, MBA is a hospital pharmacist and writes about health-care strategy and innovation.Gillian Goobie MD, PhD, FRCPC is a clinical assistant professor in the division of respiratory medicine at the University of British Columbia.
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