Clean air

There are strong links between air pollution and health problems, especially for the elderly, children and for those with respiratory and cardiac problems. A large number of studies, including some from the Government of Canada, the Ontario Medical Association and the Toronto ublic !ealth "epartment show that air pollution can lead to premature death, increased hospital admissions, more emergency room visits and higher rates of absenteeism. #hile progress is being made to improve air $uality, we still have a lot to do and everyone %inviduals, communities and governments& has a role to play. On your 'ourney through this site, find out more about the sources of air pollution, their impact on the $uality of the air we breathe and on your health, the actions undertaken by governments and communities and the activities you and your community can adopt to help clean the air.

What is smog?

The term (smog( was first coined more than three decades ago to describe a mi)ture of smoke and fog in the air. Today, (smog( refers to a no)ious mi)ture of air pollutants that can often be seen as a ha*e in the air. +mog can make breathing more difficult ,, even for healthy people ,, and it can make us more susceptible to cardio, respiratory diseases. -ven healthy young adults breathe less efficiently on days when the air is heavily polluted, especially if e)ercising outdoors. articularly vulnerable to smog are people with heart or lung disease, the elderly and small children. The two main ingredients in smog that affect our health are ground,level o*one and fine airborne particles.

Other Pollutants in Smog

.itrogen "io)ide %.O/ & is a principal member of the family of nitrogen o)ides %.O) &. 0t is a to)ic, irritating gas that results from all combustion processes. +ulphur dio)ide %+O/& is a colorless gas that smells like burnt matches. 0t can be chemically transformed into acidic pollutants such as sulfuric acid and sulfates %sulfates are a ma'or component of fine particles&. The main sources of airborne +O/ are coal,fired power generating stations and non,ferrous ore smelters. +ulfur dio)ide is also the main cause of acid rain, which can damage crops, forests and whole ecosystems. Carbon Mono)ide %CO& is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that comes primarily from automobile emissions. Ammonia is another pollutant in smog. Most of fine M is either ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate.

What is Acid Rain?

1ain is naturally slightly acidic %around p! 2& because it contains acids formed when carbon dio)ide and chlorine gases react with moisture in the atmosphere. 0f it has a p! lower than 2, it is considered acid rain. Acid rain is caused primarily by two common air pollutants,sulphur dio)ide %+O/& and nitrogen o)ides %.O)&,that are produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Most sulphur dio)ide emissions come from smelters and power stations, while most nitrogen o)ide emissions are produced by motor vehicles. These pollutants can travel thousands of kilometres in the atmosphere, where they mi) with water vapour to form a mild solution of sulphuric and nitric acid. 1ain, snow, hail, fog and other precipitation wash this solution down to earth as acid rain. Acids can also be transformed chemically into sulphur dio)ide gas or sulphur and nitrogen salts that are deposited dry in dust or other particles. Acid rain can affect virtually anything it contacts,including soil, water, plants and building materials. 0n .orth America, most acid rain falls on the eastern part of the continent, because most acidic air pollutants are produced there, and winds tend to blow toward the east.

Effects of Acid Rain

Over the last two decades, Canada has cut its sulphur dio)ide emissions by more than half, and reductions are also underway in the 3nited +tates. "espite this progress, however, the recovery of natural ecosystems has been much slower than anticipated. Acid rain continues to affect our lakes, forests, wildlife and even our health.

Lakes
The more acidic a lake becomes, the fewer species it can support. lankton and invertebrates are among the first to die from acidification, and when the p! of a lake drops below 2, more than 42 per cent of its fish species disappear. This causes a ripple effect in the food chain, and has a significant impact on fish,eating birds, such as loons. .ot all lakes e)posed to acid rain become acidified. 5ases found in certain types of rock and soil help to neutrali*e acidity. 3nfortunately, most acid rain falls in eastern Canada, where coarsely te)tured soil and granite bedrock have little ability to neutrali*e acid. Models predict that even after /676 emissions targets are reached, up to one $uarter of the lakes in eastern Canada will remain chemically damaged.

Forests
Acid rain dissolves nutrients and helpful minerals in the soil and washes them away before trees can use them to grow. 0t also releases to)ic chemicals, such as aluminum, which interferes with the uptake of nutrients. .utrient,starved trees can e)perience stunted growth and loss of leaves, and are more vulnerable to climatic stresses, pests and disease. 8ike lakes, a forest9s ability to withstand acid rain depends on the neutrali*ing capacity of its soil. :orests in eastern Canada receive roughly twice the level of acid they can tolerate without long,term damage. :orests in coastal and upland areas also e)perience damage from acidic fog.

Human Health
The sulphur dio)ide that contributes to acid rain can also react with other chemicals in the air to form tiny sulphate particles, which can lodge deep within the lungs and cause respiratory problems.

Corrosion
Acid rain can also accelerate the corrosion of materials such as limestone, sandstone, marble, brick, concrete and metal, causing serious concerns for older buildings and outdoor sculptures and monuments. Acid rain damages stonework because

it dissolves calcium carbonate, leaving behind crystals in the rock when it evaporates. As the crystals grow they break apart the stone.

Acid Rain and Other Pollutants

The interactions between acid rain, ultraviolet %3;& radiation, climate change and other human,related stresses can magnify their impacts. :or e)ample, because acidity reduces the amount of dissolved organic matter in lake water, acidic lakes are clearer and therefore more vulnerable to the effects of increased 3; levels. Climate change also affects acid levels in lakes, because hot, dry conditions convert harmless sulphur compounds that have accumulated in wetlands into acid,forming sulphates. #hen it rains, these sulphates are flushed into surrounding lakes, boosting their acid levels.

Ground-level Ozone

Ground,level o*one is a colorless and highly irritating gas that forms 'ust above the earth9s surface. 0t is called a (secondary( pollutant because it is produced when two primary pollutants react in sunlight and stagnant air. These two primary pollutants are nitrogen o)ides %.O)& and volatile organic compounds %;OC&. .O) and ;OC come from natural sources as well as human activities. .O) are nitrogen,o)ygen compounds that include the gases nitric o)ide and nitrogen dio)ide, and are produced mostly by burning fossil fuels. ;OC are carbon,containing gases and vapors such as gasoline fumes and solvents %but e)cluding carbon dio)ide, carbon mono)ide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons&. !uman activities are responsible for the increases in ground,level o*one in recent years. About <2 per cent of nitrogen o)ides from human activity come from the burning of coal, gas and oil in motor vehicles, homes, industries and power plants. ;OC come mainly from gasoline combustion and from the evaporation of li$uid fuels and solvents. O*one not only affects human health, it can damage vegetation and decrease the productivity of some crops. 0t can also in'ure flowers and shrubs and may contribute to forest decline in some parts of Canada. O*one can also damage synthetic materials, cause cracks in rubber, accelerate fading of dyes, and speed deterioration of some paints and coatings. As well, it damages cotton, acetate, nylon, polyester and other te)tiles.

Particulate Matter (PM<1 !

Airborne particulate matter, known as M, is one of the ma'or components of smog. M include microscopic particles in the air. These particles, capable of being inhaled by humans, are divided into two si*e ranges= M/.2 and M>76. 5etween the two, (fine( particles less than /.2 micrometers in si*e % M /.2& are responsible for causing the greatest harm to human health. 7?/6th the width of a human hair, these fine particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs reaching areas where the cells replenish the blood with o)ygen. They can cause breathing and respiratory symptoms, irritation, inflammation and damage to the lungs and premature deaths. +ome M/.2 are released directly to the atmosphere from industrial smokestacks and automobile tailpipes, but a large percentage is actually formed in the atmosphere from other pollutants such as sulphur dio)ide %+O /&, nitrogen o)ides %.O)& and volatile organic compounds %;OC&. :ossil fuel combustion in motor vehicles, power plants and large industries, as well as industrial process and solvent use are ma'or sources of these other pollutants. Although not as serious a threat to human health as M /.2, (coarse( particles covering the range from /.2 to 76 micrometers in diameter % M>76&, are also known to cause adverse health effects. #hen inhaled, they tend to be deposited in the upper parts of the respiratory system from which they can be eventually e)pelled back into the throat. Coarse particles generally remain in the form in which they are released into the atmosphere without chemical transformation, eventually settling out under the influence of gravity. #hile some of these coarse particles are generated naturally by sea salt spray, wind and wave erosion, volcanic dust, windblown soil and pollen, they are also produced by human activities, such as construction, demolition, mining, road dust, tire wear and grinding processes of soil, rocks, or metals.

Health Effects of PM
.umerous studies have linked M to aggravated cardiac and respiratory %heart and lung& diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema and to various forms of heart disease. Children and the elderly, as well as people with respiratory disorders such as asthma, are particularly susceptible to health effects caused by M. +cientists now believe that there is no (threshold,( or safe level, for e)posure to M. articulate matter is not limited to urban areas. -)posure to M in Canada is widespread, and it remains a problem in every region of Canada all year round. A correlation has been established between high levels of airborne M and increases in emergency room visits, hospital admissions and deaths. M is also an effective delivery mechanism for other to)ic air pollutants, which attach themselves to particulate matter that floats in the air. These to)ics are then delivered into the lungs, where they can be absorbed into the blood and tissue.

Environmental Im acts of PM!"#

The effects of M on materials have been investigated for metals, wood, stone, painted surfaces, electronics and fabrics. The deposition of M on these materials may cause soiling and discoloration, thus reducing their aesthetic appeal. -)posure to M may also cause physical and chemical degradation of materials through the action of acidic particles. articulate matter is also associated with reduced visibility with poor air $uality. The presence of particles in the air reduces the distance at which we can see the colour, clarity, and contrast of far away ob'ects because the particles in the atmosphere scatter and absorb light. The most obvious effect of particulate deposition on vegetation is the physical smothering of the leaf surface. This will reduce light transmission to the plant in turn causing a decrease in photosynthesis. article composition may cause both direct chemical effects on the plant and indirect effects through impacts on the soil environment. article accumulation on the leaf surface may increase the plant9s susceptibility to disease.

Persistent Organic Pollutants - POPs

$hat are POPs%

ersistent Organic ollutants, or O s, include industrial chemicals such as C5s, pesticides such as ""T, chlordane and to)aphene, and contaminants and by,products such as dio)ins and furans. O s bioaccumulate in living organisms, persist in the environment and have long,term to)ic effects. They enter the environment as a result of human activity. To learn more about O s, please visit the -nvironment Canada9s

Mercur"

Mercury is listed as a (to)ic substance( under the Canadian -nvironmental rotection Act. 0t is a li$uid heavy metal that can volati*e into the air and be carried by the atmosphere all over the world. 0n Canada, airborne mercury emissions come mainly from coal,fired power plants in the 3nited +tates and base metal smelting plants and incinerators in Canada. +cientists have concluded that in Canada and the 3nited +tates, mercury originates from both domestic and international sources and is deposited in sensitive ecosystems. Mercury is found in many lakes, streams, forests and fields. 0t can convert to a very to)ic and bioaccumulative form known as methylmercury ,, a substance that can affect both humans and wildlife. :or e)ample, methylmercury levels in traditional foods in northern Canada are rising above those established as acceptable by the #orld !ealth Organi*ation. 0n Canada9s Maritime region, methylmercury leads to reproductive problems in loons.

Clean #ater
From &Source to 'a &(((
"o you ever think about how your drinking water gets from the lake, river, stream or underground a$uifer all the way to the taps in your house@ The place where the water originates is called the source. The most effective way to manage drinking water to make sure it is safe for consumption when it gets to your house is to protect it all the way from (source to tap(.