In a recent report, Canada's air quality in 2023 was found to be worse than that of the United States, marking a significant shift.
According to the 6th Annual World Air Quality Report, 14 of the 15 most polluted cities in the U.S. and Canada were located in Canada last year.
Rebecca Saari, University of Waterloo Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, highlighted the implications of this concerning trend.
"Health Canada updated estimates of the effect of air pollution on Canadians to up to $140 billion each year," said Saari. "Those estimates were made before 2023, so we can expect they are even higher now."
Saari emphasized that while Canada is generally considered a relatively clean country, it is associated with approximately 15,000 premature deaths and more than $140 billion in economic damages due to air pollution. "Yes, it's a concern, especially when we see increases in air pollution due to things like wildfires as the climate changes," added Saari.
Despite being a relatively clean country compared to some, Canada is not meeting the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for air quality.
"Nine in ten premature deaths associated with outdoor air pollution happen in low-income countries," noted Saari. "Well over 90% of people in the world are living in what is considered polluted air, which includes us here in Canada."
Saari also discussed the global nature of climate change and its impact on air pollution. "Climate change is a global issue, but air pollution is mostly a regional issue," said Saari. "However, pollution levels can increase as we get air pollution crossing the ocean. Our pollution from wildfire smoke also affected air concentrations over in Europe, showing global interactions with air pollution."
In light of these findings, Saari urged Canadians to be aware of air pollution as a potential health problem. "Hope this reminds people that they should be aware of air pollution as a potential health problem," concluded Saari. "Try to be aware of air quality levels in your area and follow guidance to protect yourself."