The physicians of Ontario have long been involved in the promotion of public health, and have been concerned about air pollution for more than three decades. In 1967, the OMA Council endorse a program of air pollution control for the province, which included the establishment of monitoring stations and regulation of emissions from industry and vehicular traffic. Later in 1967 the government enacted the Air Pollution control Act, which embodied most of the recommendations found in the OMA's program. Individuals, including Ontario physicians and other health-care professionals, remain concerned about providing adequate protection from environmental exposures to air pollutants. The people of Ontario are experiencing adverse health effects to air pollutants which occur in both rural and urban communities.
Physicians know of the adverse health impacts of air pollution and they are concerned.
However, individually they now focus on treatment of symptoms. In a Toronto study, a two to four per cent excess of respiratory deaths could be attributed to pollutants levels. Children living in rural Ontario communities with the highest levels of airborne acids were significantly more likely to report at least one episode of bronchitis, as well as to show decreases in lung function. Every Ontarian is affected by air pollutants, although they may be unaware of the asymptomatic effects such as lung inflammation. Evidence from research conducted on Ontarians clearly shows that increases in these pollutants are linked to increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations.