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Climate change is happening, and it is inevitable. As we know, our climate is changing due to increased levels of Greenhouse Gasses. What you may not know, is that Greenhouse Gasses are much more dangerous than you may have previously perceived, because not only do they warm our climate, but they have a massive impact on our health as well. In particular, Ozone (O3) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) (of which a part is Nitrous Oxide, N2O, a greenhouse gas) have a very prominent effect on our health. Ozone (O3) irritates the respiratory tract and high concentrations can result in chest tightness, coughing and wheezing, and makes people more sensitive to contracting asthma. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) can irritate the lungs and lower resistance to respiratory infection, and people with preexisting asthma and COPD are extremely sensitive to Nitrogen Oxides. 1 in 15 people in Southern Ontario have asthma, and our high concentrations of Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone may be to blame.
As our Ozone and Nitrogen Oxides emissions increase, our patients with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases increase, our hospital visits and admissions increase as well. From 2005, ER visits at the London Health Sciences Centre have increased 17%, and the Ozone concentration in London has increased by 10%. As well, from 2005 Nitrogen Oxides emissions have proven to be two to three times more difficult to decrease, only decreasing by 20% (this is measly compared to the average greenhouse gas/ air pollutant emissions decrease, which is 70%), and LHSC admissions have increased by 28.8%. Ongoing studies plus the evidence provided prove that these increase in hospital visits are in fact due to an increase of greenhouse gasses in our air.
Nitrogen Oxides are produced whenever there is combustion in the air, and Ozone is a byproduct of Nitrogen Oxides. Transportation contributes 71% of the total Nitrogen Oxides emissions in Ontario. In London, there are 150 ambulances running 24/7, which is an incredible amount of Nitrogen Dioxides that affect the institutions own patients. This problem is becoming increasingly dangerous, but is not too late to reverse our negative impacts.
SOLUTIONS
If the government were to provide funding to our hospitals to invest in more environmentally friendly vehicles for hospital transportation, our Nitrogen Dioxide emissions will decrease drastically. As well, the government could provide tax cuts, or propose laws in support of hospitals that are conscious of their greenhouse gas emissions. If the Government of Ontario is willing to make a change, not only will the state of climate change better, but the health of it's citizens as well.
