Air pollution is on the rise and could be taking a toll on your health. Here, we count down the Canadian cities with the worst air pollution. According to the World Health Organization,
more than 80 percent of people living in urban areas worldwide are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO guidelines. Air pollution also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and respiratory diseases such as asthma. While Canada is far down the WHO offender list.
Many Canadian cities are still at risk for health-related issues from poor air quality. For example, the Canadian Medical Association estimates that poor air quality was responsible for 21,000 deaths in 2008. In addition, three cities in Canada exceeded the maximum level for particulate matter per cubic meter.
10. Mississauga
Mississauga is a large Canadian city neighbouring Toronto on Lake Ontario. Port Credit has shops, a working lighthouse, and a marina with a grounded freighter on the lakefront.
Pollution Index: 21.16
9. Halifax
Halifax, an Atlantic Ocean port in eastern Canada, is the provincial capital of Nova Scotia. A major business center, it’s also known for its maritime history.
Pollution Index: 23.20
8. Vancouver
Vancouver, a bustling west coast seaport in British Columbia, is Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse city. A popular filming location, it’s surrounded by mountains,
Pollution Index: 24.11
7. Calgary
Calgary, a city with numerous skyscrapers, owes its rapid growth to its status as Canada’s oil industry center. However, it’s still steeped in the western culture that earned it the nickname “Cowtown,”
Pollution Index: 25.44
6. Edmonton
Edmonton, the capital of Canada’s Alberta province, sits on the North Saskatchewan River. Its past is recreated at Fort Edmonton Park.
Pollution Index: 29.44
5. Montreal
Montréal is the largest city in Canada’s Québec province. It’s set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River and named after Mt. Royal, the triple-peaked hill at its heart.
Pollution Index: 31.75
4. Brampton
Brampton is a Canadian city in Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area. Its Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives are housed in 19th-century and contemporary buildings.
Pollution Index: 33.03
3. Toronto
Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario, is a major Canadian city along Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore. It’s a dynamic metropolis with a core of soaring skyscrapers.
Pollution Index: 37.23
2. Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its heart is The Forks, a historic site at the Red and Assiniboine rivers intersection, with warehouses converted to shops and restaurants.
Pollution Index: 38.92
1. Hamilton
Hamilton is a Canadian port city on the western tip of Lake Ontario. The Niagara Escarpment is a vast, forested ridge known locally as “the mountain” and dotted with conservation areas and waterfalls.
Pollution Index: 38.92
