Smog Reduction Activities in your company/organization name here Smog and Health Smog Response Plan

Why are we talking about smog? Smog can cause negative health and environmental impacts Your participation is key to ensuring success

What is Smog? Noxious mixture of air pollutants including gases and fine particles that can often be seen as a brownish-yellow haze Consists of: –Ground level ozone (O 3 ) –Particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) –Nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxides and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight to create ground level ozone

Where does smog come from? Burning fossil fuels to run automobiles and at power plants to provide electricity (NO x, SO 2 & VOCs) Smelters and processing of metal ores (SO 2 ) Oil-based paints, solvents, BBQ starter fluid, household cleaning products and vegetation (VOCs) Road dust, mining, milling, residential wood burning, volcanoes, smoke from forest fires, fog (Particulate matter)

How can smog affect your health? It can cause: Eyes, nose and throat irritation Reduced lung capacity and tightness in the chest It may also worsen conditions of people with: Asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema Heart trouble

Important Facts about Smog Approximately 5,000 premature deaths across Canada each year More than 1,900 Ontarians die prematurely 17,000 hospital admissions and 60,000 emergency room visits in Ontario resulting from exposure to smog 190 premature deaths, 540 hospital admissions and 2,010 emergency room visits caused by air pollution Sources: Ontario Medical Association (2005), Halton Regional Health Department (2005)

Who is most affected by Smog? Children Elderly People who exercise outdoors People with asthma People with existing heart diseases

When a Smog Alert is issued by the Province of Ontario an notification will be sent to all staff to put response plan procedures into effect (Your company/organization) Smog Response Plan Your supervisor will keep you informed when an alert has been issued or cancelled, and what steps are to be taken on that day 0-15 Very Good Good Moderate Poor 100+ Very Poor

Under direction of your supervisor, procedures at (Your company/organization) may include:

What else can I do to reduce Smog? Be Smog Smart! –Reduce energy use at home and at work i.e., turn off lights, computers, monitors and other electronic equipment when not in use –Close blinds to reduce heat gain during the summer –Walk, bike or take transit instead of driving –Carpool whenever possible

For more information… Air Quality Clean Air Online Halton Partners for Clean Air Contact (Your company’s contact)