How to deal with poor repeated air quality?

In an interview with Radio Midi Info programs. Therefore, all morning, the Dre ève Riopel, pediatrician and member of the Quebec Association of Doctors for the Environment, recommends limiting outside activities during these episodes which are called to become more frequent with climate change, according to her.

At the start of the day on Monday, Environment Canada indicated that smoke from forest fires that rage in meadows (new window) continued to cause poor air quality and reduce visibility. However, The situation will gradually improve on Monday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a maximum concentration of 15 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter (µg/m³). However, of air. Furthermore, In comparison, Monday morning, this concentration reached 45 µg/m³ in Montreal.

According to Dr. Riopel, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can lead how deal poor repeated air to cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, even certain cancers.

After short -lived exposure, even a healthy person may feel a temporary discomfort. Symptoms include irritation of the throat, lashing eyes and cough.

People 65. over, pregnant people, infants and young children, as well as people who suffer from chronic health problems are the most at risk, Environment Canada said.

In these people. breathing these fine particles, even for a short duration, can accentuate the risks heart attack and cardiovascular accidentsin addition to increasing Emergency rooms attendance.

In young children, short -term exposure could trigger asthma attacksshe explains. In the long term, we think it could have impacts on the development of children. The consequences of repeated exhibitions are still poorly understood, nevertheless specifies the Riopel.

How to live with poor air quality – How deal poor repeated air

The Dre ève Riopel recommends limiting the time how deal poor repeated air spent outside. favoring activities inside where air is filtered as in libraries, shopping centers or community centers.

Even people who are not at risk should avoid activities outside when air quality is bad.

Everyone decides how much they accept the risk. […] If there is a way to do it, it’s always better to postpone [une activité à l’extérieur].

For the Riopel Dr., these episodes should encourage to rethink its behavior. We must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. set how deal poor repeated air up collective measures to reduce greenhouse gases […] Let us help and change our behavior.

Some initiatives have already been implemented. For example. to invite people to abandon their vehicle, the Laval transport company (STL) offers the unit title to $ 1 each time as an Environment Canada issues a SMOG warning for the Laval region this summer.