Toronto's Air Pollution Harms Thousands of Residents

Air pollution causes reduced lung function, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, lung cancer, high blood pressure and reduced life expectancy.
The Toronto data show that compared with 27 cities over a ten-year period, the city's nitrogen dioxide levels were the fourth highest, exceeded only by Los Angeles, Hong Kong and New York. Increases in nitrogen dioxide levels in Toronto coincided with increased vehicle use and a decline in the use of public transit. A study released by Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Toronto's Acting Medical Officer of Health, identifies the city's transportation sector as the most significant source of pollution.
The study estimates that five common air pollutants contribute to about 1,700 premature deaths and 6,000 hospital admissions in Toronto each year.
In Toronto, exposure to fine particles in the air contributes to about 6,000 emergency room visits, 12,000 cases of childhood bronchitis and 72,000 days of asthma symptoms each year.

TASKS:
1. Name some air pollutants. Find a map of the GTA showing air pollution by the ward.
2. Debate pros/cons of the public transit.
3. Compare the public transit in your country with the one in Toronto.
4. Write a letter to the TTC.
5. Come up with some suggestions for air quality standards in Toronto.