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Healthy Environment
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Healthy Environments

Outdoor Air Quality

Each day you take roughly 20,000 breaths of air. The quality of that air has a significant impact on our health in the long and short-term. Outdoor air quality is affected by different types of air pollutants from a variety of sources, including vehicle emissions, energy production and usage, and wildfires. Recent data shows that air quality in Simcoe Muskoka has improved; however, air quality remains a concern and more can be done to reduce air pollution to make the air healthier for everyone. On this page you will find information and resources about outdoor air quality, air pollution and health, and strategies that everyone can take to reduce exposure to air pollution and improve air quality.

Protect yourself and others by understanding how air pollution affects your health, and by taking actions to reduce exposure to air pollutants and to improve air quality in our community by:

  • Understanding the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and Air Quality Alerts, which can keep you informed of current local air quality and help you make decisions to protect yourself and others.
  • Understand your sensitivity to air pollution. If you have an existing heart or lung condition, or are pregnant, speak with your health care provider about additional ways to protect your health when air pollution levels are high.
  • Learning how we can work together to improve air quality in Simcoe Muskoka.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit works to improve air quality and reduce exposure to air pollutants by:

  • Sharing information and resources to keep you informed and healthy.
  • When air quality alerts are issued, SMDHU shares this on social media and on our Health and Outdoor Environment webpage (during business hours).
  • Working with our partners and municipalities to promote healthy public policies, encourage community design for health and recognizing the health co-benefits of climate change action.
  • Contributing to research on ways to reduce exposure to traffic-related air pollution through healthy community design.
  • Monitoring and communicating the health impacts of air quality in Simcoe Muskoka.

Learn more about Wildfire Smoke and Health here.

A controlled burn is a planned fire that trained workers set on purpose. It is very different from a wild fire because:

  • It happens only in a designated area.
  • Experts watch it closely at all times.
  • It is carried out only when the weather and the site conditions are safe.

Some people may be more sensitive to smoke, including children, older adults, and anyone with breathing problems such as asthma or lung disease.

To help reduce smoke exposure:

  • Consider staying indoors during the burn.
  • If you have a health condition, follow your health care provider's advice.
  • Limit outdoor activities, if see or smell smoke.
  • Keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from entering your home or workplace.

If you have questions or concerns about a controlled burn in Simcoe County, you can visit their website or call their Forestry Department at 1-800-263-3199.

Adverse health effects from air pollution depend on many things including the length of time, the amount, and type of pollution you are exposed to. While everyone is affected by air pollution, each person reacts differently. Children, older adults, pregnant people, people with existing illness or chronic health conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, heart or lung conditions), are at a greater risk of negative health impacts from air pollution. More information to help you assess your sensitivity to air pollution can be found here.

Gases and fine particles that make up air pollution impact the heart, lungs, brain and other organs, and can lead to illness, hospitalization, and premature death. Long-term exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of developing heart and lung diseases and cancer. Short-term exposure to certain air pollutants, even at low levels of exposure, can:

  • Cause tiredness
  • Cause headaches
  • Make it harder to breathe
  • Irritate your eyes, lungs, nose and throat
  • Worsen existing heart and lung conditions, including asthma, and increase the risk of heart attack, and stroke

If people experience severe symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Immediately call 911 if someone could be having a heart attack, stroke, or experiencing another medical emergency.

Weather conditions, human emissions, and wildfires interact and contribute to the levels of air pollution (made up of gases and chemicals). Important air pollutants include; ground-level ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). More information on air pollutants can be found from the World Health Organization and Government of Canada Websites.  

The majority of air pollution is caused by human activity. For example, the way we make and use energy, our transportation patterns, waste management and industry all contribute to emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases that can be harmful to our health. Everyone (individuals and organizations) has a role to play in reducing air pollutants to promote and protect health of our community. More information on how to take action on air quality is identified below. 

On most days, air quality is very good in Simcoe Muskoka, with low air quality health risks.  However, there are some places, such as near major roads and highways, and days where we experience higher air quality health risks.

Traffic-Related Air Pollutants 

Traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP) are emissions related to traffic. They are a main source of air pollution in Ontario. TRAP are higher near and on major roads and highways. Learn more about TRAP at Public Health Ontario and SMDHU’s HealthSTATS.  

Idling

If we idle our car for more than 60 seconds, we are contributing to poor air quality and climate change. A car's exhaust contains particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). By reducing idling by five minutes a day, you will save about 44.9 litres of fuel ($55.36 at $1.25/L) and 103 kg of greenhouse gas emissions in a year. 

Check with your local municipality to see if they have an idling control by-law.

Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of gases and particles that are harmful to health at any level. Wildfire smoke can be carried hundreds and thousands of kilometers, affecting local air quality. It can be difficult to predict wildfires and their impact on local air quality. Wildfire smoke events typically occur from April to October. 

Health Canada provides further information on wildfire smoke, air quality and health.

The air quality health index (AQHI) is a tool to help you understand local air quality and what it means for your health. This tool helps you make informed decisions to protect your health and the environment by:

  • Limiting short term exposure to air pollution
  • Adjusting physical activity levels during increased air pollution
  • Reducing personal contribution to air pollution

The AQHI provides real-time, and a 2-day forecast of air quality with recommendations on how you can protect your health when poor air quality levels pose low, moderate, high and very high health risks.  

What does AQHI measure?

The AQHI measures three common air pollutants known to harm human health: ground-level ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). These three pollutants have significant impacts on human health, even at low levels of exposure, especially among people more sensitive to air pollution.

The AQHI does not measure aeroallergens like pollen, which can also impact your health.

How does the AQHI Work?

The AQHI provides a measure of air quality on a scale from 1 to 10+. The higher the number, the greater the health risks associated with air quality and the greater need to take precautions. 

The index describes the level of health risks associated with each number.

  • 1 to 3 = ‘Low’ health risk
  • 4 to 6 = ‘Moderate' health risk 
  • 7 to 10 = ‘High’ health risk
  • 10+ = ‘Very high’ health risk  

The AQHI also provides health messages for both people at high risk and the general public. It also provides recommendations on how people can improve the air quality that they breath.  

Air Quality Health Index and Health Messages

When should I use the AQHI?

The AQHI can help you others be aware of the health risks of poor air quality and steps to take to protect your health. Check the AQHI daily to receive real-time air quality levels and forecasts to help plan your outdoor activities. If you or someone you know has existing health conditions or are sensitive to air pollution, follow the health messages for at risk populations.

Where can I find the AQHI?

For more information about the AQHI, visit the Government of Canada's AQHI website.

When air quality health index levels are anticipated to be high, an air quality alert will be jointly issued by the Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. There are two types of air quality alerts that may be issued:

  • Special Air Quality Statements (SAQS) are issued when the AQHI is forecasted to reach the high-risk category (AQHI 7-10). It will also be issued where wildfire smoke is expected to reduce air quality. 
  • New: Air Quality Advisory (AQA) are issued when the AQHI is forecasted to reach the very high-risk category (AQHI of 10+) due to wildfire smoke.

The purpose of air quality alerts are to advise people to take steps to avoid unnecessary exposure to air pollution to protect their health. The alerts also inform industries and the public to take steps to reduce their emissions.

You can subscribe to receive air quality alerts by visiting: http://www.airqualityontario.com/alerts/signup.php

World Health Organization

 

Government of Canada

 

Province of Ontario

 
Non-Governmental Organizations
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