North America's Air Quality at Risk by 2100

0:00It's March 31st. This is Canada News Today, driven by AI. A new study from the University of Waterloo warns that North American air quality could tank hard by the end of the century without real action on. Climate change. Focusing on the United States, it predicts one in three Americans breathing summer air unhealthy for sensitive groups by 2100A. Sevenfold jump from today. In the worst-case scenario with no emissions cuts, young kids, the elderly, and others at risk might get alerts to stay inside every other summer day, on average. Researcher Rebecca Sari stresses, this is not a quick fix anymore, staying indoors alone won't cut it against rising pollution. The elderly over 65 face the heaviest health hits from bad air and gain the most from following those alerts. The study models key pollutants like ozone and fine PM 2.5 during smog season may first through September 30th across warming levels, up to 2 degrees Celsius or worse.

1:01It draws from 2005 population data, so future growth and aging could amp up the risks even more. Plus, it skips wildfire smoke, which slammed Canada in 2023 with 400 acute deaths, 5,400 chronic ones, and $52 billion in costs. Ozone levels are set to climb in busy spots like 7 Ontario 2, fueling asthma and lung issues. This peer-reviewed work in environmental science and technology calls for slashing fossil fuels alongside smarter indoor defenses to shield us. Long-term.