Saturday 16 August 2008

Illness Cost Of Air Pollution Underscores Need For Lung Health Action Plan: The Lung Association

�The National Illness Cost of Air Pollution (ICAP) study, released by the Canadian Medical Association, is clear grounds that action is required on breeze pollution and that a national strategy for lung health is needed now more than ever. The study measures the national health and economic impact of air pollution and puts a dollar figure on the health tending related costs of zephyr pollution in Canada. The national subject includes ICAP software models for ten provinces and estimates of health restitution at the national level.



"Air pollution is a very real threat to the health and upbeat of Canadians of all ages," said Kenneth Maybee, Chair of Environmental Issues, The Lung Association, "The data from the ICAP study is clear: we need concrete and real action on air pollution and a national action plan on lung health, if we are to stem the thousands of deaths that occur annually as a direct outcome of both short and long-term vulnerability to pollutants".



The study found that:




- In 2008, 21,000 Canadians will die from the personal effects of aura pollution, a figure sticking out to rise to 710,000 by 2031;


- Respiratory illness accounted for nearly 40% of infirmary admissions associated with photograph to air pollution;


- Respiratory diseases account for some 40% of the 92,000 emergency department visits in 2008 linked to air pollution - a figure projecting to rear to 152,000 by 2031;



- Over 20 1000000 minor illnesses will be attributed to air pollution in 2008 and that number testament climb to over 26 million by 2031;



- Approximately 45% of minor illnesses will want restricted activity or asthma attack symptom years potentially resulting in absenteeism from work or school. This supports findings released in May 2008 by The Lung Association that found that 62 per cent of Canadians with asthma say their asthma "acts up" on days when breeze quality is poor.



"The ICAP study is a valuable prick to wellness organizations and public policy makers as we locomote forward on building a healthier surroundings for Canadians," said Nora Sobolov, President and CEO of The Lung Association, "The ICAP study re-enforces the very real pauperism for a strategy that deals with both environmental impacts and their health outcomes.



The Lung Association, the union government and stakeholders countrywide, are nearing the windup of a national action plan that will better the lung health of Canadians. The study will be particularly valuable as a resource tool in ensuring that the Framework is responsive to the one in five Canadians suffering from respiratory diseases, and the environmental personal effects that english hawthorn exacerbate them.



The National Lung Health Framework is an ambitious plan that will lower rates of lung disease and sporty up the air Canadians breathe through strong environmental action and policies, treatment and diagnosis programs and cutting edge research to position Canada as a world leader in the fight against lung disease. The ICAP study is additional evidence demonstrating why action on the surround - and lung health - is so critical to the health of Canadians.



Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and almost respected health charities, and the in the lead national organization for science-based information, research, education, supporting programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.

The Lung Association


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