National Illness Costs of Air Pollution (A study by the Canadian Medical Association)

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National Illness Costs of Air Pollution (A study by the Canadian Medical Association)

View the entire report here (PDF document)

Introduction

It is well known that air pollution is bad for our health. But just how bad is it and are there
economic costs related to the impact of air pollution? The National Illness Cost of Air
Pollution study seeks to quantify the national health and economic impacts of air pollution
and put a dollar figure on the health care related costs of air pollution in Canada.
As practicing physicians, the members of the Canadian Medical Association see the impact
of air pollution on their patients every day in terms of increased frequency of symptoms,
medication use, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and premature deaths. Children, the
elderly, and those with chronic health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of
air pollution. As an older Canadian population cohort – the baby-boomers - grows, the
impact of air pollution will surely increase.

While it is clear that physicians and other health care providers have a large role in education,
prevention and treatment of the health effects of air pollution there is a fundamental role for
governments in preventing and controlling smog and poor air quality through healthy public
policy and regulations. That is why this study was commissioned; in order to help policy
makers make informed decisions based on both the health impact and the economic costs
that air pollution has on Canadians.

At a Glance

1. In 2008, 21,000 Canadians will die from the effects of air pollution. While most of
these deaths will be due to chronic exposure over a number of years, 2,682 will be
the result of acute short term exposure.

2. By 2031, almost 90,000 people will have died from the acute effects of air pollution.
The number of deaths due to long-term exposure to air pollution will be 710,000.

3. 42% of air pollution associated acute premature deaths will be as a result of
cardiovascular disease.

4. In 2008, over 80% of acute premature deaths (2,156 deaths) associated with air
pollution will be in those over 65 years of age.

5. Approximately 25 deaths per year among those under 19 years of age will be
attributable to short term exposure to air pollution; close to 600 premature deaths
will accumulate between 2008 and 2031.

6. Quebec and Ontario will have the largest proportion of acute premature deaths
(approximately 70%), yet only 62% of Canadians live in Central Canada.

7. The number of premature deaths associated with chronic exposure to air pollution is
expected to rise 83% between 2008 and 2031.

8. In 2008, almost 11,000 hospital admissions will result from exposure to air pollution.
By 2031, close to 18,000 people will be admitted because of air pollution - a 62%
increase during that period.

9. Over 92,000 emergency department visits associated with air pollution exposure are
expected in 2008 increasing to nearly 152,000 by 2031.

10. In 2008, it is estimated that there will be over 620,000 doctor’s office visits because
of air pollution. This total is expected to rise to over 940,000 visits in 2031 if air
quality does not improve.

11. In 2008, economic costs of air pollution will top $8 billion. By 2031, these costs will
have accumulated to over $250 billion.