by Béatrice Provençal on November 21, 2017 - 3:19pm
Recently, there was an alert in Montreal, raised by Environment Canada, regarding air quality. The air was severely affected, to a point where there was a possibility of smog. This smog is caused by an elevated level of pollution. According to Développement durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatiques, a smog is a yellowish haze from a mixture of air pollutants that limits visibility in the atmosphere. It consists mainly of fine particles and ozone. Thus, even if this warning has been lowered, it suggests that pollution can have a detrimental effect on not only the human being but also the ecosystem and all that surrounds it.
Pollution has a massive impact on air quality which can create smog. Then, this smog affects the ecosystem. According to the Government of Canada, the atmospheric pollution acts on the ecosystem, such as: soil and water, vegetation and wildlife. This is a major problem since all the resources necessary for a good living are negatively affected. Therefore, pollution gradually degrades the life expectancy of our planet where this is cause by human beings.
Indeed, human beings are responsible for this problem because of their actions and their choices. Thus, there are many solutions which can be put in place to help this situation. To reduce the quantity excessive of pollution, one of solution could be to have greater accessibility to public transit throughout the city for a fluid circulation. So, it would reduce the harmful particles that could be found in the air. Furthermore, according to Conseil Régional Environnement Montréal, having a wood burning fireplace is also a problem. Therefore, obtaining a permit should be enforced for heating installations. Hence, it would reduce emissions due to unpopularity because of the permit. Moreover, according to Développement durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatiques, an air quality index has been put in place to regularize the air. Even if it is already in place, it should be more present in sustainable cities, such as Montreal. For example, since there are more peoples at risk to have respiratory problem.
Conseil Régional Environnement Montréal. (2017, November 9). Qualité de l’air. Retrieved
Développement durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatiques.
Indice de qualité de l’air. Retrieved from http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/air/iqa/index.htm
Développement durable, Environnement et Lutte contre les changements climatiques. Info-
Smog. Retrieved from http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/air/info-smog/index.htm
Government of Canada. (2012, June 20). Air pollution environmental issues. Retrieved from