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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-23, Page 9The Huron Expositor • May 23, 2007 Page 9 News Huron County experiencing more smog days than some big cities, says Huron County Health Unit Ben Forest anineniEMEM Although smog may seem like a big -city problem with little rele- vance to rural Ontario, Pamela Scharfe, public health manager with the Huron County Health Unit, says it's not so. "We (in Huron County) have actu- ally been experiencing more smog days than some of the bigger cities," said Scharfe on May 9, one day after a smog advisory was issued for Huron, Perth, and more than 45 other municipalities across Ontario. Huron County is in the westerly path of the Eastern Seaboard, and receives industrial pollution from the eastern United States, carried by winds off Lake Huron, Scharfe said. The May 8 advisory was not the earliest in the history of the county but it is uncommon for such advi, sories to be issued this time of year. The health unit uses these warn- ings to remind locals about the types of activities they should refrain from during smog advi- sories, and the effects smog can have on their health, Scharfe said. Activities such as cutting the grass, barbecuing, burning wood or garbage, or anything that involves the use of gas engines should be avoided, she noted. "An individual person will think, `Well, what's the big deal if I cut my grass?' But if everybody's cutting their grass on a smog day, it's con- tributing to the smog we have," Scharfe said. Turning thermostats up slightly to reduce the amount of electricity needed for air conditioning is also recommended, as is car-pooling, though Scharfe acknowledged this is more difficult to manage in rural areas. Many are aware that smog can worsen the condition of those.,who have respiratory illnesses, but able- bodied persons are not immune to the effects of smog. The official website of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment makes clear that no level of smog is "safe." Exposure to the fine particulate matter present in smog can cause lung damage over the course of a lifetime, Scharfe noted. Hospital admissions typically increase on smog advisory days for persons with asthma, emphy- sema and breathing prob- lems, Scharfe said. She stressed the importance H. REID ALLEN 11 R\11111 I I �lOR.ViiO\ ,\ Id I I\ISIII\(; SEAFORTH 527-2717 of staying indoors during smog days for those with such problems. Even the able-bodied should avoid strenuous exercise or work, howev- er. "The more strenuous the activity, the more you're breathing in this fine particulate matter, and it's get- ting into your lungs," she said. A number of other tips for protect- ing oneself during smog advisories, and reducing smog in general can be found at http://www.ene.gov.on.ca. Here are a few of them: • Limit car trips by doing all errands in one trip, and ensure that the car does not idle. • Keep cars well -tuned, tire pres- sure checked, and drive at moderate speeds. • Wear light clothing at work while air conditioning is reduced. • Delay using oil-based paints, sol- vents and cleaners. CANADA'S BEST SELLING COMPACT SUV JUST GOT BETTER'. 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