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Showing posts from December, 2018

Outdoor Air Quality: Smoke and Air Pollution at Work with Dr. Denise Koh

submitted for publication Safe Work Matters December, 2018 Climate Change Impact on AQ:  Due to Manitoba’s northern latitude and continental geography, our province is projected to continue to s ee rapid changes in our climate-- warming much faster than the global average --with significant major disruptions in our social, economic, and ecological systems, industry sectors, and health.  Climate Change and higher temperatures will increase smog pollution as well as wildfires, due to the drying of the forest floor with elevated heat and drought.  This year Manitoba had 472 wildland fires which burnt 218,000 hectares.  Canada’s wildfires prompted air quality advisories by Environment Canada. T he Canadian Medical Association estimated that the Illness Cost of Air Pollution (ICAP) in 2008 was $8 billion in Canada for lost productivity, healthcare costs, quality of life, and loss of life.   Approximately 21,000 deaths could be attributed to air pollution, together with 11,000 hosp