Wildfires and air pollution risks
Members of the media may directly contact the following experts:
Errol Thomson (English only)
Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine; Research Scientist, Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada
Dr. Thomson’s laboratory studies mechanisms underlying health impacts of air pollutants and identifies key determinants of toxicity, at the time when air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for mortality in Canada and worldwide.
“Wildfires are a major source of air pollution, emitting pollutants such as fine particles (PM2.5) for which there is no known safe level. This means that your health can be affected even if you can’t see or smell smoke.”