Smog Advisory

SMOG ADVISORY

What is SMOG?

Smog is a type of air pollution, the word smog is portmanteau from smoke and fog. Smog is produced from large amounts of coal burning and is caused mainly from industrial emissions and vehicles. “It is a complex mixture of air pollutants that is sometimes visible in the air as a brownish-yellow haze over cities. Smog can be caused by a build-up of either ground-level ozone (O3) or tiny particles of soot known as particulate matter (PM). Smog can form in almost any climate where industries or cities release large amounts of air pollution. However, it is worse during periods of warmer, sunnier weather.”1

Smog consists of many gases such as Nitrogen Oxide, Troposphere Ozone, Volatile Organic Compound ( VOCs), Aldehydes(R’O), Peroxyacyl nitrate. 2

Effects of a Smog?

“Smog is a Air pollution causes 9,500 premature deaths a year in Ontario, new research suggests. Data’s From the Ontario Medical Association Says that Smog causes a worsening in respiratory and cardiac illnesses and contributes to earlier mortality as a result.”3 The effect from smog and air pollution causes many health risks:

•Young children have developing lungs as they age and have smaller air way between their lungs that causes rapid breathing. The risk of inhaling more polluted air increases as one ages.4
•Asthma patients have weak lung functions, and smog causes inflammation of the lungs aggravating the symptoms and triggers an asthma attack. 4
•Seniors are at a higher risk because they are more likely to have pre existing health conditions, many include asthma, bronchitis heart disease or hardened arteries. Seniors who are smoking need to be more cautious with their health when they are in a polluted environment especially since it consists of smog. 4
•People who are at a high risk from smog people with allergies, pregnant women, smokers , and people with heart disease. 4

Signs of Smog Irritation:

Symptoms from smog inhalation include breathing difficulty, eye irritation, cough or throat irritation, headache and chest tightness. 4

How to Protect Yourself:

•Reduce outdoor activities and stay indoor as possible. 5
•Usually the places that are humid and hot correspond with higher level of smog for example, down town Toronto during the summer. 5
•In case you work in places that are surrounded with cars and industries try to stay in the shade, and drink lots of fluid. 5
•For closed areas like schools and offices, the best way is to have air conditioning on during the summer. 5
•Avoid exercising outside especially from early afternoon to evening, because there is a higher chance of smog during that period from the emission of cars (downtown). 5
•The best way to protect children and seniors is to stay indoor.5