POLLUTION SOLUTION

Amid drop in premature deaths related to emissions, battle continues to clear Toronto’s air,

Despite a substantial drop in premature deaths and hospitalizations due to cuts in air pollution, even more must be done — including a reduction in traffic — to lessen emissions and health risks, says the city’s medical officer of health.

A recent Toronto Public Health study has found that reductions in air pollution over the past decade in the city have cut premature deaths by 23 per cent and hospitalizations by 41per cent.

The Path to Healthier Air study concluded that about 1,300 premature deaths and 3,550 hospitaliza- tions stem from air pollution annually in Toronto.

A 2004 study found air pollution contributed to an estimated 1,700 premature deaths and 6,000 hospitalizations annually.

“So what we’ve seen is that our air is in fact cleaner than10 years ago,” said Dr. David McKeown, the city’s medical health officer. “It’s having less of an impact on our health.

“Healthy public policy can make a difference in saving lives.

“But the bad news is even though air quality has improved and human health has improved there is still a large burden of illness associated with air pollution. There’s still a sub- stantial impact.” The drop in deaths and hospitalizations can be attributed to government policies and programs, including phasing out coal-fired power generation and the city’s purchase of low-sulfur fuel, McKeown said. But even more work must be done to reduce emissions and health risks, he said. The largest local source of air pollution comes from motor vehicle traffic (both personal and freight vehicles) which accounts for an estimated 280 premature deaths and 1,090 hospitalizations, the study found. “When we look at circumstances today, half of our air pollution comes from outside of Toronto,” said McKeown. “However, of the air pollution generated here inside of the city limits about half is coming from cars and trucks on our roads. If we want to tackle the burden of illness we have to tackle the emissions from vehicles.” McKeown is recommending a number of initiatives to the Board of Health on April 28 that will reduce emissions and improve air quality. If approved, the recommendations will go to city council on May 6. The proposals include investing in public transit; investing in active transportation infrastructure for cycling and walking; and developing an urban freight strategy to reduce the amount of time polluting heavy-duty trucks spend on Toronto roadways.

“There’s a strong health reason to invest in public transit, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian infrastructure — investments that will move us around the city in a less polluting way,” McKeown said.

“We’re in the middle of a debate about how people are getting around the city. The debate on transportation is also about our health. The study tells us it’s a matter of life and death. If we can move more people around by means that are less polluting, we’ll have fewer deaths and hospitalizations.”