Thanks to aggressive public policy, Toronto’s air quality has improved significantly over the past decade. Yet, while air pollutant levels remain below what they were a decade ago, pollutant levels have stopped decreasing, and have actually been rising incrementally since 2009.
That’s the gist of the new Toronto Public Health study
Path to Healthier Air: Toronto Air Pollution Burden of Illness Update, presented to Toronto's Board of Health last Monday.
The study, presented to the board by the city's medical officer of health Dr. David McKeown, shows that Toronto has experienced a 23 per cent decrease in air-quality related premature deaths and 41 per cent decrease in air-quality related hospitalizations since 2004. These significant decreases are the the result of two major government policies: the provincial phase-out of coal-fired power generation and the City of Toronto's low sulphur fuel purchasing.
But, cautioned McKeown, despite these encouraging numbers, air pollution in Toronto from all sources still gives rise to 1,300 premature deaths and 3,550 hospitalizations annually.
Not surprisingly, the study showed that the city’s most significant source of air pollution is currently motor vehicle traffic. Without significant policy changes, the level of pollutants in Toronto’s air - stagnant since about 2009 - will begin to increase.
"With over half of the health impact from Toronto's local air pollution attributed to motor vehicle traffic, expanding transportation options so that more people walk, cycle and take transit is a prescription for better air and better health," Dr. McKeown told the board.
"Healthy public policy can make a difference in saving lives. This report shows that we are better off than we were, but air pollution still has a serious impact on health. More work is needed to reduce emissions and reduce health risks."
After Dr. McKeown's presentation last Monday, the Toronto Board of Health approved a number of recommendation to improve the city's air quality. Among those recommendation was the creation of a series of round-tables to design a collaborative air monitoring strategy for the city.
The recommendation will be considered by City Council this Tuesday.
Writer: Kat Snukal
Photo:
James D. Schwartz