Air Quality

Clean air is essential to health and well-being. At certain levels, air pollution affects both human and animal health and damages vegetation and property.

Occasionally, periods of poor air quality occur in Waterloo Region. These are normally associated with weather conditions in summer, but outdoor air pollution is possible at any time of year.

Here you will find information about air pollution and its adverse effects on health, smog advisories, heat & humidex advisories and indoor air.

Pollution

Air pollution is made up of gases, liquids and particles that can react together to create harmful conditions. Pollutants come from a wide range of sources, including natural conditions and those created by people.

Vehicle exhaust, home and building heating, wood burning, construction dust, industrial processes and energy generation all pollute the air. Some pollution is carried from distant sources, but much is created locally.

Poor Air Quality & Our Health

Poor air quality can make existing health problems worse, particularly respiratory and cardiac illness. Asthma can be exacerbated by the effects of air pollution, especially in children and older adults.

For more information about smog's effects on children, please check out the Ministry of Environment publication Smog Advisory Today - Why Should I Care?

For more information about smog and asthma, read our Asthma Fact Sheet.

Please note that air pollution can cause respiratory problems even among healthy people. High smog and heat levels may increase health risks for people who are outdoors playing sports, exercising or doing physical work such as gardening.

Parents, coaches and others supervising children need to be aware of such risks, particularly during a smog or heat alert.

Smog

The most common form of pollution is smog, the grey-brown haze that sometimes accompanies hot days. Smog is usually formed by a combination of ozone, noxious gases, small particles, road and construction dust, sunlight and heat. It, too, can pose health risks, particularly to people already suffering from respiratory and/or cardiopulmonary illness.

Smog can cause:

• Difficult breathing.
• Eye, nose and throat irritation.
• Wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
• Lower resistance to infections.
• Deterioration in heart and lung problems.

For more information, please check the Smog Advisories - DO's and DON'Ts fact sheet.

Smog Alerts

To sign up for smog alert notifications or to find out more about Ontario's air quality program, please visit the Air Quality Ontario website.

Indoor Air Quality

Working, playing, eating, and sleeping; most of us spend 90 per cent of our time indoors. Since healthy lungs thrive on unpolluted air, keeping the air clean in your home is important for good health. This is particularly true for people with allergies or a lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema.

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutants by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home.

Many pollutants found in the home result from our own actions. Tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. Other sources include hair sprays, cleaning products, paints and solvents.

Storing chemicals such as gasoline, pesticides and chemicals used in hobbies or crafts can also affect the air quality in your home as they release gases or particles into the air.

High temperature and humidity levels may increase the concentration of some pollutants and the resulting discomfort.

Indoor Air Hazards You Should Know About

• Mould (moisture and biological contaminants, mildew and dust mites)
• Carbon Monoxide (and other combustion products)
• Formaldehyde
• Radon
• Household Products and Furnishings
• Chemicals to Get Rid of Household Pests
• Clothes Brought Home from a Dry Cleaner
• Asbestos
• Lead
• Particulates
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke
• Remodelling Byproducts

Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Allergic reaction
• Eye and skin irritation
• Respiratory tract irritation

If you experience any of these symptoms, note whether they disappear when you are away from home, or improve when you increase indoor ventilation. Pay attention to the time and place the symptoms occur: they may be triggered by something inside your home.

Reducing Air Pollution In Your Home

Eliminate, then ventilate. The most effective way to control indoor air pollutants is to eliminate possible sources from your home. Improve the ventilation by opening a window and bringing cleaner air inside.

If eliminating and ventilating are not sufficient, consider purchasing an air purifier or air cleaner. These small appliances can be purchased at most hardware and home-building stores. Be sure to look for one which is HEPA-certified.

Other things you can do:

• Do not allow smoking in the home.
• Ensure that furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces are checked regularly.
• Do not store chemicals in the home.
• Choose natural products that do not emit polluting gases.
• Keep temperature and humidity at proper levels.

Note: If you suspect that hazardous building materials were used in your home, such as asbestos, formaldehyde, lead-based paint, etc., do not attempt to remove or disturb them yourself. Refer to Health Canada's website for guidance on dealing with hazardous household products.

Resources

Air Quality Status in Waterloo Region

Region of Waterloo Emission Reduction Plan Discussion Paper

Waterloo Region Clean Air Plan

FAQs For Health Professionals

Web Links

Environment Canada Weather: K-W Region

Ontario Smog Alert Network