For the air we breathe and the earth we stand on
By Jinny Wong
The rapid rise in terminal illnesses, and a 5.5 magnitude earthquake felt throughout Ontario are just some of the examples of why health and environmental issues have been the forefront of scientific research.
Organizations like The Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) provide funding for university-based research projects that focus on climate, atmospheric and related oceanic work in Canada. This enables us to better predict the weather and provide scientific information for the government to enhance policymaking and service delivery.
Professor Greg Evans of the University of Toronto tells us that they are “using CFCAS funding to study the air we breathe, trying to figure out what causes poor air quality–what sources are contributing to it whether they be local, or regional, or trans-border, and how meteorology affects it as well.”
The research produced by these research projects is utilized by Dr. Frances Silverman at the Gage Occupational Environmental Heath Institute. “We…challenge people with specific substances in the air pollution mix.” The conclusion is that breathing pollution leads to many health risks, like high blood pressure.
The value of these discoveries is paramount to the future of our society. Professor George Agnes, Simon Fraser University tells us “for every dollar spent on pollution control strategy now, we can save five to seven dollars on healthcare costs in the future.”
“I got involved because it felt natural to lend a hand to those in need- holding a door, joining in on school yard clean ups, donating to those down on their luck- they were all simple tasks that didn’t warrant a request. When I realized the magnitude of the global HIV and AIDS pandemic 4 years ago I knew I needed to do what I could to help so I volunteered with LetsStopAIDS.”
