Canada outpaces U.S. in poor air quality, new report shows

Canada has officially surpassed the United States in global pollution rankings for the first time in history, according to a new report.

The unprecedented shift is attributed to Canada’s historic wildfire season last year, which shattered records.

The latest air quality ranking, outlined in a report by tech company IQ Air, highlights the alarming rise in fine particulate matter concentrations across the nation.

Once known for its pristine air quality, Canada now dominates the list of the top 13 most polluted cities in North America.

Leading the charge are Alberta cities Fort McMurray and Peace River, along with the Northwest Territories’ Yellowknife, claiming the top three spots. Fort St. John, B.C. also makes the list as the only city from the province to crack the worst 13.

Here’s the comprehensive list of the 13 cities, as outlined in the report:

• Fort McMurray, Alta.
• Peace River, Alta.
• Yellowknife, NWT
• Fort St. John, B.C.
• Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
• Spruce Grove, Alta.
• Edmonton, Alta.
• St. Albert, Alta.
• Sherwood Park, Alta.
• Saskatoon, Sask.
• Canmore, Alta.
• Cold Lake, Alta.
• Leduc, Alta.

The report analyzed the yearly average levels of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which is associated with various health problems, using data from over 30,000 air quality monitoring stations worldwide. These measurements were then compared to the air quality standards set by the World Health Organization.

Only 10 out of the 134 countries examined in the report met these acceptable standards, the report found.

“PM 2.5 is a form of air pollution called particulate matter. So particulate matter is sort of the catch all term that contains a lot of different types of particles and aerosol pollution that can make it into the air that we breathe,” Dr. Christi Chester Schroder, air quality science manager at IQAir told CityNews Wednesday.

“So, PM 2.5 comes from a lot of different sources. One of the primary sources for it is emissions from fossil fuel combustion.”

According to IQAir, just seven countries met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guidelines: Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand.

Only 9 per cent of reporting cities achieved the WHO’s PM2.5 guideline. However, not all countries and territories have publicly accessible air pollution data, the report noted.

“Particulate matters are actually the number one environmental risk to human health. PM 2.5 particles are incredibly small. They’re so small that they can penetrate deep into your lungs and actually cross into your bloodstream,” Schroeder explained.

Poor air quality is a wake-up call: scientist

“Particulates can be deposited in all major organ systems in your body. Most people assume, or most people connect, particulate matter exposure to respiratory issues like asthma, but it’s also related to things like stroke, COPD, various types of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular illnesses, and actually can also impact your mental health.”

On a global scale, Canada ranked 93rd, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 10.3 micrograms per cubic meter of air — exceeding the WHO’s recommended level by two to three times.

Schroeder says Canadians, especially those in wildfire-prone areas, need to be aware of the risks that wildfire smoke poses.

“Recalling what happened last summer and what people experiences, I think it’s a really good motivation for people to think about how they can prepare if something like that happens again.”

“Having low-cost air quality monitors is really important,” she noted. “And having a plan for if air quality conditions in your area begin to deteriorate.”

“Knowing what to do, knowing where you can find information that can help you make informed decisions about protecting your health, knowing what actions you can take, both in advance of deteriorating air quality conditions and also during. Do you know when you should open your windows and when you should close your windows?”

Shroeder says this new data on deteriorating air quality is a “wake-up call.”

“Scientists have been warning for a long time about the impending changes that are coming with a warming planet. And now we’re starting to see it and actually feel it.

“So, I hope that people understand that there is a link between the warming climate and deteriorating air quality conditions, and are mindful of how they approach their everyday behavior that might be contributing to that.”