Urban Air and Health Outcomes in Toronto, Canada

The study investigates the associations of the onset of human health conditions with short-term exposure to ambient air pollution in Toronto, Canada. Urban air quality is influenced by various air pollutants, many of which are harmful to human health. This study focuses on the acute impact of these urban air pollutants in Toronto. The health conditions are measured as emergency department visits. Statistical models were constructed to assess the relative risks associated with the concentrations of these pollutants. The models were realized to 8 air pollutants and 18 strata (determined by sex, age, and season). Twelve disease categories, identified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), were used as health outcomes in the models. The results were compiled into matrices with 18 rows (strata) and 15 columns (lags) for each air pollutant (8 considered) and the 12 health categories classified by their ICD-10 codes. The results, in the form of the estimated coefficients and their standard errors, were used for the presented analysis. A series of graphs were produced to explore the effects of the selected air pollutants on health. The study indicates and supports the associations between ambient ozone levels and respiratory system diseases (ICD-10 codes: J00 – J99).