14 Aug 2008

Staggering amount of smog-related deaths predicted

4:01 pm on 14 August 2008

The Canadian Medical Association says smog-related deaths will rise in the country to more than 700,000 over the next 20 years.

The association says long and short term exposure to air pollution will kill at least 21,000 Canadians this year alone.

That is higher than a government estimate of nearly 6,000 premature deaths linked to pollution.

A CMA report estimates that pollution-related illnesses such as asthma and cardiovascular disease will prompt more than 30,000 emergency hospital visits and more than 80% of those who die due to poor air will be over the age of 65.