Lesson 13 — Activity 2:

Air and Water Quality



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In Walkerton, water was the problem. Government agencies in cities and towns are responsible to ensure our water supply is safe. They are also responsible for ensuring the air we breathe is clean. The government agencies responsible for safe water and air also have a responsibility to tell the public if their water and air supplies are not safe for any reason. In this lesson, you will learn about air and water quality and human health.

You breathe about 16 kg of air per day. The average person eats 0.7 kg of food and drinks 1.4 to 2.3 kg of water each day. So, you can understand that the quality of the air we breathe can have a significant impact on our lives.


 

The government monitors air quality in the province. Air quality is a measure of how clean the air is. There are four levels of air quality. These make up the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI).

The AQHI is a public information tool that helps Canadians protect their health on a daily basis from the negative effects of air pollution. This tool has been developed by Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The AQHI communicates four primary things:

  • measurements of air quality in relation to your health on a scale from 1 to 10 (The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality.) 
  • a category that describes the level of health risk associated with the index reading (e.g. low, moderate, high, or very high health risk)
  • health messages customized to each category for both the general population and the "at risk" population
  • current hourly AQHI readings and maximum forecast values for today, tonight, and tomorrow

     

    @gettyimages


       
     

    1. Low risk is the desired range. The air has no harmful effects on anything.
    2. Moderate risk is an acceptable range. There is adequate protection against harmful effects on plants, animals, and humans.
    3. High risk is tolerable conditions. Living things are affected quite a bit. Not all aspects of plant, human, or animal health are protected from possible negative effects.
    4. Very high risk is unacceptable. In this range, continued exposure to the air could be a risk to public health.
      5.

     

    In our daily life, we contribute to air pollution, the release of greenhouse gases, and ozone-depleting substances. Some of the ways we add to air pollution include:

    • wood burning (e.g., in fireplaces, backyard fire pits, wood stoves, etc.)
    • burning toxic substances such as garbage, plastics, and tires
    • burning fossil fuels in vehicles, airplanes, off-road vehicles, oil and gas furnaces, gas stoves, and barbecues
    • using household products such as paints, cleaning supplies, hairsprays, air fresheners, and candles





    Air pollution is not just a man-made problem. It has been naturally occurring for millions of years. Smoke from volcanoes, forest fires, as well as sand and dust storms all contribute to poor air quality.

    @creativecommons
     


    Depending on each individual's health, the person must know what he or she can and cannot do depending upon the quality of the air. For example, a person with asthma may choose to stay inside when the air quality outside is poor or very poor.

    Governments do not just monitor the air; they also educate people about the effects that various levels of air quality can have on them. Governments also work to improve air quality.

    Our water resources also face a host of serious threats, many of which are caused primarily by human activity. Some of the ways we add to the water pollution include:

    • agriculture — when farmers spray their crops with harmful pesticides, these chemicals can seep into the ground water and eventually flow into streams and rivers

    • wetland destruction — as people destroy wetlands, there are fewer and fewer left to act as natural filters and sponges for river water

    • commercial forestry — planting trees in large numbers can be a drain on the water supplies in the area, and this can result in the water supply being restricted and eventually drying up

    • littering — garbage such as plastic bags, bottles, and paper that are carelessly thrown out can cause pollution of the rivers when the garbage is blown by the wind into the rivers

     

    @creativecommons

    There are, however, many laws that support clean air and water in Canada. For example, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act is aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment and human health. Alberta also has many laws designed to protect the environment. These laws include topics such as:

    • beverage container recycling
    • conservation
    • ozone depleting substances
    • pesticides sales (handling and use)
    • potable (drinkable) water
    • waste control
    • wastewater and storm drainage


    As you can see, your government is very concerned about keeping you healthy. However, it is important that you also do your part to keep our air and water quality at a healthy level by doing things such as not littering, recycling, and being mindful when spraying toxic chemicals into the air.




    Click on the Play button below to watch a video that discusses air quality in Alberta.

     

    Self-Check

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    Click here  to go to a website to read more about air and

    water pollution and what you can do to help!