| May 27, 2003 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Windsor, Ontario - If Smog is any indicator of our area's economic success, then business is definitely booming! On April 30, 2002, the "Clean Air" section of Environment Canada's website asserted "The summer smog capital of Canada is Windsor, and it averages more than 30 smog advisory days a year." On March 17, 2003, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment measured a smog day in Windsor - an indication the smog problem is worse than previously thought.
So, what do we do? Hold our breath for four, five, six months?
The Citizens Environment Alliance invites you to join us as we herald a new smog season. The first of May is the day typically recognized as the beginning of the Summer Smog Season in Ontario. Here at the CEA we like to think of the beginning of the Smog Season as a kind of New Year…so this year we're ringing it in with plenty of noise…
Join us for the final Smogfest events!
Smogfest Parade/Demonstration, May 29 (Thursday), meet at 5:30 pm at the University of Windsor’s School of Visual Art, Huron Church Road at College (southwest corner). Artists and environmentalists team up with concerned citizens to bring attention to air quality and related issues. Join us as we march against smog down the sidewalks of the NAFTA Superhighway.
Smogfest: The Final Gasp, May 30 (Friday) from 7 pm - midnight at Milk Coffee Bar, 68 University Ave. W. **This is a smoke-free event** Silent art auction ends at 9:00 pm!
Smogfest artwork by: Mary Atkinson, Julie A. Bell, Leesa Bringas, Kevin Buckridan, Christine Burchnall, Michael Califano, Amanda Crawford, Rebecca Curran, Rahmi Dadwal, Viva Dadwal, Johnny Deck, Steve Gibb, Susan Gold, Laura Gould, Ken Grahame, Josephine Hazen, Suzanne Konyha, Mark Laliberte, Margaret Lawrence, Lisa Liburdi, Grace Manias, Sandy McKay, Tony Mosna, Victor North, Michael Pavlov, Cindy Radix, Linda Renaud Fisher, Ken Roung, George Rizok, Denis Robillard, Amy Sfalcin, Chris Shoust, Gligor Stefanov, John Sturcz, Gord Taylor, Yeqiang Wang, Terrence Whalen, Holly-L. Wolter, and Michelle Young.
Festivites include: Critical Mass ride concludes at Milk Coffee Bar. Poetry reading by Marilyn Dumont. Musical performance by duos Allison Brown and Erin Gignac, Nancy Drew and Rob Brun with special guest Krell Rayon, T-shirt giveaways, food, prizes!!!
This is NOT a CEA-organized event...
Critical Mass Bike Ride: The last Friday of EVERY month. Rain or Shine! Meet at City Hall Square at 5:30 pm. Ride begins at 6:00 pm. There are no leaders or organizers of the Critical Mass ride; just people who love to ride their bikes, humankind’s perfect technology. Visit www.critical-mass.org for more information on the world-wide Critical Mass movement.
May Ride: Fri, May 30 (ride concludes at the Smogfest closing reception at Milk)
For more information contact:
Derek Coronado
Research and Policy Coordinator,
Citizens Environment Alliance
(519) 973-1116
or
Leesa Bringas
Director of Development and Administration,
Citizens Environment Alliance
(519) 973-1116
Smog is a combination of ground-level ozone and fine airborne particles.
Ground-level ozone is a colourless and highly irritating gas that forms just above the earth's surface. It is produced when two primary pollutants react in sunlight and stagnant air. These two primary pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ground-level ozone not only affects human health, it can damage vegetation and decrease the productivity of some crops.
Airborne particles are microscopic and remain suspended in the air for some time. Particles can be both primary pollutants and secondary pollutants, sent directly into the atmosphere in the form of windblown dust and soil, pollen and spores. Secondary particles are formed through chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, VOCs and ammonia. Numerous studies have linked particulate matter (PM) to aggravated cardiac and respiratory (heart and lung) diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema and to various forms of heart disease. Children and the elderly, as well as people with respiratory disorders such as asthma, are particularly susceptible to health effects caused by PM.
Scientists now understand that there is no "threshold," or safe level, for exposure to PM or ground-level ozone. Further, PM and ground level ozone are not limited to urban areas; their presence is widespread throughout North America.
"The bottom line is there's no comfort level. What you can see does hurt you. But what you can't see hurts you as well." -Dr. Ted Boadway of the Ontario Medical Association.