Air Pollution and Your Health: Air pollution accounts for over 6 million deaths around the globe each year. This new production from film producer Matt LeMay gives viewers a thorough overview of air pollution, climate change and the resulting impact on human health. The program features Dr. Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health at McGill University in Montreal.

The study of air pollution began in 1952 with The London Fog, a severe air pollution event primarily arising from the use of coal. For 5 days, the city of London was brought to a standstill by a dense blanket of toxic smog, killing an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 people. This event spurred action by governments and researchers to minimize air pollution and to protect health. In this program, Dr. Scott discusses how a variety of contaminants such as volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and particulate matter can impact human health.

The dynamic relationship between air pollution and climate change is also examined. Dr. Scott emphasizes that all is not ‘doom and gloom’. There are many hopeful signs around the globe. Heavily populated and developing countries like China have made vast improvements in reducing emissions as well as actively promoting the use of electrical cars and renewable forms of energy. These positive actions are reasons to be hopeful.

Filmmaker Bio: An award-winning Métis filmmaker, Matt LeMay is an innovator in the field of educational documentary film. He has channelled his passion for addressing social issues that impact First Nations and Métis communities into documentaries that showcase the power of Indigenous storytelling and the importance of protecting the natural environment.