Air Quality and Health Studies

We know from studies that:

On days with worse air quality, more people die, especially from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
(Vedal et al. EHP 2003)

In more polluted cities, people die earlier from CVD.
(Pope et al. JAMA 2002

In the most polluted areas of cities, there is an increase risk of dying from CVD.
(Miller et al. MEJM, 2007)

Reducing air pollution can increase life expectancy by 15 % (2.7years).
(Pope et al. NEJM 2009)

Air pollution is linked to a progression of atherosclerosis.
(Kunzli et al. 2005; Hoffmann et al. 2007)

For good summaries of air quality and health issues for British Columbia and for Canada go to:

Every Breath You Take...Air Quality in BC, a Public Health Perspective in pdf

Life and Breath: Respiratory Disease in Canada

Life and Breath: Respiratory Disease in Canada link for pdf file

No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution link for pdf file

Biomass Burning as a Source of Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Acute Myocardial Infarction pdf