Monday, June 06, 2005

Smog watch

Why Layton's persistent questions on smog are entirely justified:
The study measured the impact of extreme cold, extreme heat and air pollution on premature deaths in...four cities over a 46-year period.
It concluded that extreme heat was killing an average of 120 people a year in Toronto, 121 in Montreal, 41 in Ottawa and 37 in Windsor.
Extreme cold was responsible for an average of 105 deaths a year in Toronto, 143 in Montreal, 54 in Ottawa and 32 in Windsor.
The air pollution that causes smog was found to be the cause of 822 deaths a year in Toronto, 818 in Montreal, 368 in Ottawa and 258 in Windsor.

For those counting along at home, that's 2266 deaths due to smog alone. (Edited to emphasize: per year.) Or in U.S. terms, a justified invasion of over one country. (Edited to emphasize: per year.) Of course we don't consider the deaths to be as sudden as a terrorist attack, but they're just as real and probably more preventable.

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