Types of Pollutants
| Carbon Monoxide (e.g., Smoke) |
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. It is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. In Ontario, the main sources of CO emissions come from road vehicles and other forms of transportation. When CO is inhaled, it enters the blood stream and reduces our bloods ability to carry oxygen to our tissues and organs. Exposure to high levels of CO has been associated with impaired vision, headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion and may also lead to death. When the air quality index reaches 7 or higher, SWPH offers a limited supply of N95 masks to residents who are at high risk for respiratory problems when wildfire smoke results in poor air quality. These are provided to public health units by the Government of Ontario. Those at greatest risk of experiencing negative health effects from poor air quality are people with lung disease (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors. Click here to view a list of participating locations to pick up an N95 in limited supply as part of this program once levels reach 7 or higher. |
| Sulphur Dioxide |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is a colourless gas, but unlike carbon monoxide, has an odour of burnt matches. In Ontario, the main source of SO2 emissions comes from utility and smelting industries. When SO2 is inhaled. it can cause severe irritation of the nose and throat and can result in various respiratory symptoms and conditions including asthma. Exposure to high concentration of SO2 can cause death. |
| Nitrogen Dioxide |
| Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a reddish-brown gas with a strong, irritating odour. NO2 is a major product of all combustion and plays a big role in the production of ground-level ozone. In Ontario, the main sources of NO2 emissions come from road vehicles and other forms of transportation. When NO2 is inhaled, it can irritate the lungs and may lower the resistance to respiratory infections. |
| Particulate Matter |
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Particulate Matter (PM) is a mixture of solid and liquid particles in the air. It can come in a wide variety of sizes including PM10 and PM2.5.
In Ontario, the major sources of PM include residential sectors, transportation sectors and industrial processes. Breathing in both PM10 and PM2.5 can cause a variety of health problems including respiratory illness. Since PM2.5 is smaller than PM10, it can travel deeper into our lungs and has the potential to cause more serious health effects. Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with hospital admissions and premature death. |
| Ozone |
| Ozone (O3) is a colourless and odourless gas that is created when emissions, containing nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, react in the presence of sunlight. Ozone tends to be a problem around cities during hot summer days. When ozone is inhaled, it can irritate the respiratory tract and eyes. Exposure to high levels of ozone has been associated with various respiratory problems including chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. It has also been associated with an increase in hospital admissions and premature death. |
Health Effects
Short term exposure to high levels of certain air pollutants may lead to:
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
- Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing
- Worsening of existing lung and heart problems, such as asthma
- Increased risk of heart attack
Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause cancer and damage to the immune, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.
While air pollution can affect everyone’s health, infants, children, older adults and people with existing breathing or heart problems are more vulnerable to the effects.
If you experience health effects as a result of exposure to outdoor air pollutant, seek the advice of your primary health care provider.
What is the Air Quality Health Index?
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale designed to help you understand what the air quality around you means to your health. This can help you make decisions to protect your health by limiting short-term exposure to air pollution.
Learn more about the Air Quality Health Index and what to do during high-risk events.
When the AQHI reading rises, Southwestern Public Health recommends:
- Reduce or reschedule outdoor physical activities.
- Monitor possible symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, coughing or irritated eyes.
- Follow your doctor’s advice to manage existing conditions, such as asthma.
- Taking public transit to reduce smog emissions.
- Close windows and doors to maintain indoor air quality.
Where can I find the current AQHI values?
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change provides the current and forecasted AQHI values.
The AQHI does not list forecasts for Oxford County - please refer to the London or Kitchener forecast for the most accurate forecast for our area. For Elgin County, please refer to the Port Stanley forecast.