23 Oct 2008
SIMCOE MUSKOKA – Local health agencies, municipalities, environmental groups and transportation companies interested in the health effects and costs of air pollution upon people living in Simcoe Muskoka now have a one-stop on-line resource where they can find that information.
“In a time of increasing smog days, heat advisories and global climate change, air quality has become a major concern,” said Marina Whelan, manager of the health hazards program in the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s health protection service. “This outdoor air quality report provides information on the local health effects of outdoor air pollution, factors that contribute to poor air quality and reports on local activities that are helping to improve air quality in our area.”
The report – Focus on Outdoor Air Quality in Simcoe Muskoka - is available on the HealthSTATS section of the health unit’s website, www.simcoemuskokahealth.org. This is the fourth focus report produced for HealthSTATS, which contains data and other information intended to keep communities up to date on the health status of their population and of key public health issues.
The report includes data on the local health effects and illness costs of air pollution, sources of pollutants, how air quality is measured, climate change, what is happening locally to improve air quality as well as ways to bring about change. The Ontario Medical Association estimated that air pollution would contribute to an estimated 6,200 premature deaths in Ontario, including 220 in Simcoe Muskoka in 2008. Other illness costs include hospital admissions and emergency room visits.
“Poor air quality was once something we associated with big cities, but in fact it’s a significant issue in Simcoe Muskoka, especially to children and the elderly who are most at risk to the health effects of smog,” said Whelan. “By knowing what the local picture is, we can then take the steps necessary to improve air quality.”
Improving air quality by working with partners and municipalities to increase the walkability of neighbourhoods, improving transit, conserving energy and reducing vehicle emissions is a key component of the health unit’s Building Healthy Communities initiative, which aims for healthier built environments.
People can find the Focus on Outdoor Air Quality in Simcoe Muskoka by following the HealthSTATS link from the health unit website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org. For more information about the report, call Your Health Connection 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday at 721-7520 (1-877-721-7520).
<< Back to Media Releases
