If you are a SENIOR, smog can:

Aggravate your asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis symptoms
Decrease your lung’s working capacity and make you more tired
Increase your risk of getting sick by reducing your system’s ability to fight infections

I have a CHILD. How will smog affect my child’s health?

Children are more susceptible to respiratory effects of smog such as wheezing and coughing
Because children breathe more and faster than adults, more harmful chemicals can enter your child’s lungs
More smog will enter your child’s lungs since children often breathe through their mouth rather than their nose. Unlike the mouth, the nose has a natural filtering system which reduced the amount of harmful chemicals
Children are more susceptible since they spend more time outdoors
Smog may make your child more susceptible to infection by reducing the ability of the child’s respiratory system to fight-off infection. Even without smog, children are more susceptible to infection
Symptoms of asthma and allergies can be aggravated by smog

What if I have a HEART or LUNG condition? How will smog affect my health?

Smog may worsen your asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis symptoms
Your lung’s working capacity may be reduced making you more tired and your breathing more difficult
Your respiratory system’s ability to fight infection may be reduced making you more susceptible to infection

You can find more information on the health impacts of smog on the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care website.

NOTE: Links to sites external to the Municipality of Clarington are provided as a convenience and their inclusion does not imply that the Municipality of Clarington endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of these sites.