PGAQ #36 by Vic Steblin, October 9, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

The Thu Oct 9 Citizen contained an article about the links of air pollution to appendicitis. This new research adds to the known effects of bad air on lungs and the heart. More and more research seems to point out the dangers of air pollution.

Researchers from the University of Calgary studied about 5000 adults who were hospitalized for appendicitis between 1999 and 2006. Higher concentrations of air pollutants were linked to appendicitis and the effect was strongest during the summer when people were outside using the air directly.

Nobody predicted this strong link but it adds another reason to reduce air pollution. The major systems of breathing, blood circulation and now digestion are obviously crucial to health and are damaged by air pollution.

The city leaders of Prince George should ban residential wood burning and insist on cleaner industrial standards. Health must come first.