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Air Quality

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Indoor and outdoor air quality can cause health problems for some that are sensitive to environmental contaminates in the air. Contaminates that contribute to indoor air quality include substances such as mould, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, as well as asbestos. Contaminates that contribute to poor outdoor air quality include increased particulate matter, aeroallergens, burning garbage and forest fires.

Outdoor Air Quality

Poor outdoor air quality can contribute to poor health. It can cause lung disease and make breathing difficult for some. The Ontario government monitors outdoor air quality using the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). When a Special Air Quality Statement is issued for our area, the Health Unit will send out information to the public. Check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for the closest air quality monitoring station (Kingston, Ottawa, Cornwall) to see what the current outdoor air quality is. During a Special Air Quality Statement, the AQHI can change quickly so check it regularly. Use the table below to guide your actions and see what the health messages are for the general population and people who are considered at greater risk for negative health consequences.

Health Risk for At Risk Population (People with heart or breathing problems are at greater risk. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.): Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.

Health Risk for General Population: Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.

Specific Groups:

  • Youth outdoor physical activity/sports: no recommendations
  • Adult outdoor physical activity/sports: no recommendations
  • Outdoor work: no recommendations

Health Risk for At Risk Population (People with heart or breathing problems are at greater risk. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.): Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you are experiencing symptoms.

Health Risk for General Population: No need to modify your usual outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

Specific Groups:

  • Youth outdoor physical activity/sports: can continue for individuals not experiencing symptoms
  • Adult outdoor physical activity/sports: can continue for individuals not experiencing symptoms
  • Outdoor work: can continue for individuals not experiencing symptoms

Health Risk for At Risk Population (People with heart or breathing problems are at greater risk. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.): Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy.

Health Risk for General Population: Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

Specific Groups:

  • Youth outdoor physical activity/sports: avoid or reduce
  • Adult outdoor physical activity/sports: can continue for individuals not experiencing symptoms
  • Outdoor work: can continue for individuals not experiencing symptoms

Health Risk for At Risk Population (People with heart or breathing problems are at greater risk. Follow your doctor’s usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.): Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion.

Health Risk for General Population: Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

Specific Groups:

  • Youth outdoor physical activity/sports: avoid
  • Adult outdoor physical activity/sports: avoid or reduce
  • Outdoor work: avoid or reduce

Source: Government of Canada: Understanding Air Quality Health Index messages

Creosote and Health Information

Creosote is a general term for different oily liquids, with the most common variant being coal-tar creosote which is used as a heavy-duty wood preservative to protect rail ties against fungi, insects and other pests. It contains a number of chemicals, including VOCs that can vaporize and travel through the air.

Health effects from inhalation exposure over a period of several months can include irritation of the nose and throat, respiratory irritation (cough, shortness of breath), and other effects (headache, nausea, light-headedness). Children, pregnant people, and the elderly may be at higher risk of developing health effects following prolonged exposure. These health effects are expected to resolve once the exposure stops (the creosote is removed, or the person leaves the area). Although creosote exposure can also increase the risk of other health effects (for example, skin contact can cause sun sensitivity and sores; ingestion can cause organ damage), these effects would not be expected from inhalation exposures. Long-term, permanent health effects and increased risk of cancer are linked only to exposures occurring over a period of several years.

The following measures may help to reduce potential exposure:

  • Close windows to reduce outdoor air entering into your home.
  • If your home’s ventilation system has a filter, follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding what filters are to be used and how frequently they are to be changed. Increase the ventilation rate and use a filter that can remove VOCs (e.g. activated carbon), if possible.
  • Use a portable air purifier with a HEPA and activated carbon filter, if available.
  • Avoid spending long periods of time outside when you smell an odour of creosote. 
  • To reduce your overall exposures to VOCs in the home, avoid smoking in the home and delay using paints, paint strippers, and other sources of VOCs until the ties are removed.
  • Report any symptoms or health concerns to your healthcare provider.

Take Action to Avoid Forest Fire Smoke

Forest fire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations. People with lung disease (such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or heart disease, older adults, pregnant people, infants and young children, and people who work or exercise outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing negative health effects caused by forest fire smoke.

  • Limit outdoor activities. If you have difficulty breathing, reduce your activities or stop altogether. Consider wearing a respiratory mask (N95, KN95) when outdoors.
  • Stay cool and drink lots of water to help your body cope with the smoke.
  • Check in on others who may be more vulnerable to air pollution.
  • Prevent outdoor air from getting into your home by:
    • Keeping windows and doors sealed.
    • Installing a high quality air filter in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to remove air pollution from incoming air. Set the HVAC system to recirculation mode.
    • Limit the use of exhaust fans when not cooking.
  • Avoid sources of indoor air pollution:
    • Smoking
    • Burning incense and candles
    • Vacuuming
    • Using wood stoves
    • Using cleaning products that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • For those with lung or heart disease, ensure that you have the medication you need to manage symptoms and prevent exacerbations.

Stay safe with tools that check air quality:

Use these tools to plan outdoor activities and protect your health.

Use the following link for information about the current forest fire danger, forest fire activity including an interactive map, and fire restrictions across the province.

For more information, see these websites:

Indoor Air Quality

Mould

There are many types of mould that can be found almost anywhere, both outdoors and indoors. Not all moulds are harmful but some can cause property damage and may make some people sick. Mould requires a source of moisture and materials to feed on. Health Canada does not recommend testing for mould in the home setting as there are no standards and most homes will have some moulds detected. Instead it is important to remove the conditions that cause mould to grow and clean up any areas where mould has been found. The following links provide information on how to prevent and clean up mould:

Resources

Carbon Monoxide

Every year, hundreds of people become ill due to carbon monoxide poisoning; some of those people die. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is produced as a by-product of combustion. Furnaces, wood stoves, space heaters, barbeques, automobiles and cigarette smoke are all sources of carbon monoxide.

At low levels, carbon monoxide can cause fatigue in healthy people and chest pains in people with heart disease. Chronic exposure to low levels of this gas can result in flu-like symptoms that disappear when the victim leaves the contaminated area. At higher concentrations, victims can suffer a range of health effects including nausea, impaired vision and coordination, dizziness, confusion and headache. Loss of consciousness and death can result from exposure to very high levels.

Resources

Asbestos

Asbestos is a material that was used before 1990 to produce products such as cement and plaster, residential and commercial heating systems, insulation in our homes, siding on our houses, etc. Asbestos was thought to be a valuable product because it was fire and weather proof. When asbestos fibres become airborne and are breathed in by a person it can cause lung cancer and other lung diseases.

There are no significant health risks if materials containing asbestos in your home are tightly sealed preventing the fibres from becoming airborne. If you choose to remove Asbestos from your home or workplace it is best to have it done by a professional company as there are legal health and safety requirements for anyone dealing with asbestos.

Resources