Air pollution could send Americans indoors 142 more days per year by 2100: Ontario study
Global News
Researchers from schools on both sides of the border, are currently working on a similar study for Canada and seeing similar results so far.
An international study led by researchers from the University of Waterloo found that in about 75 years, there will be four times the number of air quality alerts in the U.S. than there currently are.
Rebecca Saari, who was the lead author of the study, says the team, which is composed of researchers from schools on both sides of the border, is currently working on a similar study for Canada and is seeing similar results.
“Generally, the air is a little cleaner here (in Canada). We have fewer alert days here than in the U.S.,” the associate professor at the University of Waterloo told Global News. “But we do see the same kind of general trends of things worsening if we don’t reduce emissions, mainly in our major cities.”
The study, titled Health and equity implications of individual adaptation to air pollution in a changing climate, was published Tuesday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Air quality alerts result when the Air Quality Index gets too high. As part of the study, researchers examined a century’s worth of air quality alerts, focusing on outdoor fine particulate matter, the most harmful pollutant.
The study focused on outdoor fine particulate matter and found that by the year 2100, Americans would be asked to stay inside for an additional 142 days a year to avoid additional health risks caused by air pollution.
The air quality alerts are issued when the air quality index, which measures air pollution, reaches higher levels.
“That’s really hard to do if you don’t have access to indoors, for example, if you’re experiencing homelessness or if you’re an outdoor worker,” Saari noted.
