Ottawa -The Canadian Lung Association (CLA) is praising the federal government's recent approval of new Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for two of the nation's most common and harmful air pollutants. The new standards set significantly lower limits on fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone, key components of smog.
"Tougher air quality standards will help reduce air pollution and save thousands of lives every year," said CLA's Acting President and CEO Mary-Pat Shaw. "Improved air quality will mean better health for all Canadians – especially for children, the elderly, and people living with respiratory and cardio-vascular disease."
According to the Canadian Medical Association, air pollution in 2008 claimed the lives of over 21,000 Canadians and sent over 700,000 to emergency rooms and doctors' offices. Many scientific studies have linked exposure to fine particulate matter to increases in deaths from heart attack, stroke and serious respiratory illness. Ground-level ozone damages the lining of the airways and lungs, seriously aggravating asthma, COPD and other respiratory illnesses.
The Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) are more comprehensive and demanding than Canada's previous national standards and among the most stringent in North America. The standards are a key component of the new nation-wide Air Quality Management System (AQMS) developed through a ground-breaking 5-year collaboration among health and environmental organizations, major industrial sectors, and the federal and provincial/territorial governments.
As well as new air quality standards, the AQMS includes limits on industrial emissions of air pollutants and a comprehensive system for managing air quality at the local level and co-ordinating management efforts regionally and nationally. The new system was approved for implementation by Canada's environment ministers in October 2012.
"The new system promises to dramatically improve air quality in Canada," said Ms. Shaw. "It's a great achievement that shows what can be accomplished when governments and stakeholders work together to tackle a major health and environmental challenge."
Media inquiries:
Christopher Wilson
Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy
Canadian Lung Association
(613) 298-5464
cwilson@lung.ca
About the Canadian Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues. For more information, visit www.lung.ca or call us toll-free at 1-888-566-5864. Join us onFacebook or follow us on Twitter @canlung.
