A group of Quebec doctors is warning that poor air quality can cause long-term adverse health effects.

The Quebec chapter of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment also believes decision makers are underestimating the impact of air pollution.

Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City have all experienced poor air quality this week due in part to winds from the west bringing smoke from forest fires in the Prairies and northern Ontario.

Group president Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers says exposure to fine particles can affect every organ in the body, increasing the risk of everything from premature dementia to lung, heart and kidney problems.

Pétrin-Desrosiers believes decision makers in Quebec need to do more to control polluting companies in order to protect people’s health.

She said many people have the impression that air quality issues are “far away” and only impact people in places such as India or China, but that’s not the case.

“If it takes smog episodes where we experience some of the worst air quality in the world to make us realize that we aren’t immune to these impacts, I hope it will generate conversation and, of course, stricter regulations to address these issues,” Pétrin-Desrosiers said.

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“Because we need government regulations, we need to set standards for industry, we need constant vigilance, and we need to be able to communicate these risks.”

When air quality is poor, young and healthy people will experience minor health effects, such as stinging eyes or a sore throat. People with heart or lung problems need to be extra careful since they’re more prone to complications.

Scientific literature shows that when there is more air pollution, there are more deaths from heart disease and stroke, and more people with respiratory problems who have to go to the hospital. In addition, regular exposure to high levels of air pollution can increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

“This is a serious health concern because exposure is somewhat involuntary — we don’t really have a choice about breathing,” Pétrin-Desrosiers said. “And when there are episodes of increased concentration of air pollutants in the atmosphere, it can have harmful short- and long-term effects on the body,” Pétrin-Desrosiers.

In Quebec, air pollution causes 4,000 premature deaths per year, according to a 2021 Health Canada report. This results in costs of more than $30 billion per year for the Quebec health-care system, the document states.

“That’s significant,” says Dr. Pétrin-Desrosiers. “And part of that is related to smog episodes caused by forest fire smoke, but it’s also because our air quality standards are less strict than those recommended by the World Health Organization, particularly for fine particles.”

People are advised to avoid strenuous exercise during smog episodes, as well as limit time outdoors and close windows when inside.

Properly fitted N95 masks can also help, especially for people with asthma or other chronic conditions.

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