Air pollution

Outdoor air pollution
Outdoor air pollution can be created from manufactured sources such as vehicles (for example, cars, trucks, planes and boats), gas-powered tools and yard machinery, using chemicals (for example, paint, aerosol sprays), commercial burning, industrial plants and by natural events (for example, dust or methane from cattle). Major sources of outdoor air pollution include:

• gasoline engine exhaust
• diesel engine exhaust
• airborne emissions from industrial plants
• emissions from residential heating
• natural events such as forest fires

Diesel- and gasoline-powered engine exhaust contains many harmful substances, including particulate matter (fine particles), sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Ground level ozone, another harmful substance, is formed from a combination of pollutants.

Air pollution in your community can be affected by:

• some types of local businesses
• local traffic patterns (vehicle type and traffic density)
• whether you live in an urban or rural location
• geography (for example, valleys versus plains)
• weather patterns (for example, wind direction)

Indoor air pollution
Air inside your home can also be polluted. Major sources of indoor air pollution include:

• second-hand smoke
• radon
• indoor burning of coal or wood

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies types of air pollutants differently depending on their link with cancer. For example, radon and diesel engine exhaust are known cancer-causing substances while gasoline engine exhaust is a possible cancer-causing substance. Find out more about how cancer-causing substances are classified.

In addition to making existing lung disease and heart problems worse, air pollution can lead to lung cancer. Several research studies have found an association between lung cancer and outdoor air pollution. Research has also determined that radon gas in indoor air can lead to lung cancer. But smoking is still the biggest cause of lung cancer by far in Canada.

Outdoor air pollution

• Check daily air quality levels and air pollution forecasts in your area (usually provided with your weather forecast as the Air Quality Health Index), and follow the advice given with the forecasts.
• Try to plan strenuous outdoor activities at times when the air quality is best, especially if you’re sensitive to air pollution.
• Try to avoid exercising near areas where traffic is heavy.

Indoor air pollution

• The best way to reduce indoor air pollution is to get rid of the source of the pollutant and to reduce indoor emissions.
• Don't allow smoking indoors or in vehicles.
• Fix any cracks or air leaks in your basement.
• Test your home for radon.
• Make sure that fuel-burning appliances are properly installed and ventilated, working properly, well maintained and inspected regularly.
• Ensure adequate ventilation. Ventilation increases the amount of outdoor air that comes inside. It removes stale indoor air and reduces indoor air pollutants.
• Consider using an air cleaner, which removes particles from the air. However, most air cleaners are not very good at removing gases, which is why controlling the source of indoor air pollution and ventilation are much better options for improving indoor air quality.
• Use lower temperature methods when cooking food, such as steaming, boiling, poaching, stewing or braising.
• Do not idle your vehicle or run other fuel-burning engines in a closed garage or workshop.

General information about outdoor air pollution
Learn more about sources of outdoor air pollution, potential health effects, and how you can protect yourself and take steps to protect the air around you.

Health Canada – Outdoor air
The Canadian Lung Association – Outdoor air quality
Health Canada – Road traffic and air pollution
Health Canada – Smog and your health
Environment Canada – Particulate matter
CAREX Canada – Carcinogen profile: diesel engine exhaust
CAREX Canada – Carcinogen profile: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
CAREX Canada – Carcinogen profile: particulate air pollution

General information about indoor air pollution
Learn more about sources of indoor air pollution, potential health effects, and how you can protect yourself.

The Canadian Lung Association – Indoor air quality
Health Canada – Indoor air pollutants

Tracking air quality
Use these tools to inform and protect yourself when air quality in your environment is polluted.

Environment Canada – Air quality health index
Environment Canada – National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)
Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy – A citizen’s guide to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (PDF)

Taking action against air pollution
Find out what measures individuals, industry, government and other bodies are taking to combat air pollution and how you can get involved.

Environment Canada – Take Action for the Environment – Air
Environment Canada – Reducing emissions from diesel-fuelled buses
Canadian Public Health Association – Resource development to raise awareness about the health effects of air pollution