Latest news with #UniversityofToronto
Hamilton Spectator
8 hours ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Why Toronto residents still aren't safe from wildfire smoke indoors
Environment Canada issued an air quality warning for Toronto and much of the GTA, as thick smoke from wildfires in northern Ontario blanketed the city — pushing the Air Quality Health Index to 10+, or 'very high risk,' early Monday morning. By the late afternoon, the warning was downgraded to a special statement, with an index of eight, or 'high risk.' Smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Manitoba is still causing poor air quality and reduced visibility, according to the updated statement, with conditions Torontonians are being urged to reduce strenuous outdoor activities and to stay inside when possible. But there's no escaping the smoke, even when indoors, experts tell the Star. Most buildings are only able to keep about half — 40 to 60 per cent — of outdoor air pollutants from coming inside, according to the research of Jeffrey Brook, an associate professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health. As climate change advances, I cannot grasp the hugeness of the calamity. What once was notable is becoming a habit, a toxic, sinister pattern. As climate change advances, I cannot grasp the hugeness of the calamity. What once was notable is becoming a habit, a toxic, sinister pattern. That means, on especially smoky days, indoor air quality can still reach dangerous levels for susceptible individuals, Brook and other experts previously told the Star. These can include young children, pregnant people, elderly individuals and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions like asthma. 'There's a lot of epidemiology research that says (pollutants released by wildfires) is a major killer,' Brook explained. 'It's one of the most significant causes of premature mortality in the world.' And yet, our building codes and ventilation systems generally aren't designed to prioritize smoke and other pollutants, experts say. As the climate crisis makes wildfires a more common occurrence, policymakers are being urged to consider long-term solutions to a worsening issue. There are three main ways smoke (and other air pollutants) can infiltrate our homes, according to Amy Li, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Waterloo. The first is through any large openings, like a door left ajar or an opened window. 'This is why we often have the recommendation to close all windows and doors when we know the outdoor air is not good,' she explained. The second pathway is less visible — leaks and cracks in a home's enclosure through which pollutants can enter. 'Buildings are not like a spaceship,' Li said. 'There will always be some amount (of pollutants) getting into the building.' Health experts are not currently concerned about air quality in Toronto but warn prolonged exposure to moderate risk air may threaten health. Health experts are not currently concerned about air quality in Toronto but warn prolonged exposure to moderate risk air may threaten health. The third is through mechanical ventilation systems that funnel outside air indoors, said Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto. This sort of system is present in 'most non-residential buildings,' he said. It's why large commercial and institutional buildings, like schools, offices and community centres, are often more vulnerable to smoke, Li added, although it varies from building to building. Older buildings also tend to have more cracks for pollutants to seep through and ventilation systems less able to keep smoke out, Li and Siegel explained. Meanwhile, single family homes and townhouses tend to be 'leakier' compared to highrise apartment complexes, Li said. Buildings without air conditioning are also at greater risk if windows are kept open to regulate high temperatures, Siegel added. The first rule of thumb is to close any doors and windows when it's smoky out. You might even consider taping windows shut if leaks are present, Li said. 'That's not as protective as would be ideal because of the leaks in buildings … but it will help,' Siegel added. But this may not be an option if your residence has no air conditioning and you're weathering a period of extreme heat: 'The health effects of extreme heat can be more serious than the effects of wildfire smoke,' Siegel said. If your home has a central forced air system with a MERV 11-rated air filter or better, Siegel recommends keeping your fan going continuously if possible. MERV, or 'minimum efficiency reporting values,' measures how efficiently a filter can capture particles; a MERV 13 to 15 rated filter is preferred, Siegel said. Unlike many commercial buildings, most residences in Canada recirculate the indoor air instead of pumping in fresh air from the outside, Li said. Siegel also recommended running portable air filters in crowded spaces, especially in areas with susceptible individuals. The Star previously outlined how to make an affordable filter using a fan, air filters, duct tape and cardboard. If possible, Li recommends upgrading your home's filtration system. Consult with a professional first, especially if your home's ventilation system is old, as a high-efficiency filter might overwhelm the system and lead to drops in pressure, she said. Finally, those at high risk can consider wearing a well-fitted respirator or mask, like an N95 mask, while indoors when it's especially smoky, Siegel explained. TORONTO - The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is urging people to take care of their eyes as wildfires burn across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. TORONTO - The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is urging people to take care of their eyes as wildfires burn across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Until recently, building filtration systems have placed less emphasis on keeping wildfire smoke and other environmental pollutants out, Brook noted. And while the COVID-19 pandemic saw a shift toward improving HVAC systems in buildings like schools, experts and advocates have noted it's not sufficient to keep up with the increasing prevalence of wildfires. Almost any upgrades to a building will also make it more resistant to wildfire smoke, Siegel said, from installing new windows to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning retrofits. The problem is many of the buildings where these improvements are needed most, like schools, are unable to implement them due to budget and funding limitations, he continued. 'It's an important area that we should be thinking about for investment, because the issue isn't just wildfire smoke,' Siegel said. 'We have increasing ambient air pollution just because of urbanization. We have a lot more construction, a lot more traffic, a lot of major roadways with schools and other buildings near them.' There's another hurdle. Brook noted that improved ventilation, air-conditioning and filtration systems may end up contributing to the climate crisis. For urbanites, there's a new way to mark the calendar: the day the smoke reaches the city. For urbanites, there's a new way to mark the calendar: the day the smoke reaches the city. 'If you just start expending more energy to make the indoor air clean, it can becomes a vicious cycle of more emissions if our energy is coming from dirty sources,' he said. 'We have to think, what's our long-term strategy?' Brook continued. 'Why have we stopped talking about how we're going to meet carbon emission targets? How are we going to upgrade our housing and clean air while not increasing our energy usages?'
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Weight loss medications like Ozempic linked to eating disorders in boys and men: study
Prescription weight loss medication use has been linked to significantly higher rates of eating disorders in adolescent boys and men, according to a new study. Led by Kyle Ganson, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's faculty of social work, the study focuses on an often overlooked population and raises new concerns about the use of high-profile medications like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. 'While these medications are typically prescribed for diabetes or obesity, their off-label use for weight loss has become popular,' Ganson said in a news release from the University of Toronto. 'Our findings underscore potential psychological implications for young men.' The study analyzed survey data from 1,543 boys and men from Canada and the U.S. who were between the ages of 15 and 35. While only 1.2 per cent of the sample reported using prescription weight loss medication in the past 12 months, they were much more likely to report eating disorder attitudes and behaviours than others, such as loss of control while eating (63.2 per cent versus 36.2 per cent), binge eating (63.2 per cent versus 34.1 per cent) and purging via vomiting (15.8 per cent versus 5.6 per cent). The study also found that boys and men who used the medication were typically older, had a higher body mass index, and were more likely to identify as not being white or heterosexual. 'Boys and men are frequently left out of the conversation about eating disorders and body image pressures, but this study makes clear that they are not immune to the risks,' Ganson said. The study was published earlier this month in the journal Eating Behaviors. 'There is a greater need to describe the prevalence of use among understudied populations, as well as identify associations with eating disorder attitudes and behaviours,' the study explained. 'Health and mental health care professionals should be cognizant of the associations found in this study to ensure proper eating disorder assessment and intervention are provided to individuals, including boys and men, who use prescription weight loss medication.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Japanese walking' a fun way for some to boost their health
It's no "magic bullet," but a recent TikTok trend could boost your health without too much extra legwork. Users of the social media app are spreading the gospel of high-intensity interval walking, after latching onto a nearly 20-year-old Japanese study that touted some health benefits for older and middle-aged people. The 2007 study found the technique of switching back and forth between periods of "high-intensity" and more relaxed walking — a technique TikTokers are calling "Japanese walking" because of the study's country of origin — could do more to lower blood pressure and build muscle and aerobic capacity than the same amount of continuous walking at a more moderate pace. Participants in the 2007 study did three minutes of fast walking, followed by three minutes of slower walking, for 30 minutes per day at least four days per week. Subsequent studies have also found the technique to have a range of potential health benefits. While it may seem obvious that working a little bit harder on your walk will be better for your body, Nancy Salbach, professor at the University of Toronto's Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, said high-intensity interval walking is accessible to many people who are not necessarily used to aerobic exercise. "You need to get your heart rate up; you need that three minutes of high intensity. That's what's pushing you over the edge to get greater benefits than just walking at a moderate pace," she said. "You probably can do better if you can do 30 minutes of running, but not everybody wants to go for a run." Salbach, who does research to promote older adults to walk in their communities, says the physical and mental health benefits can be amplified by walking in green spaces like parks and gardens, which she says is proven to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If possible, she says, it's also best to do with a friend or in a group. "Then you have the chance for social interaction, social support, and that can make the whole activity more enjoyable." Getting out is key, prof says Some TikTok users are touting high-intensity interval walking as a way to save time, to allow people who are used to taking longer, slower walks to meet their health goals. Fitness coach and content creator Eugene Teo, in a video that has nearly a million likes, claims it offers "10 times the benefits" of walking 10,000 steps per day. (That in itself may be an arbitrary figure, researchers say.) Stephen Cheung, professor and senior research fellow at Brock University's kinesiology department, says the exercise will provide maybe five per cent more health benefits on average than walking at a normal, continuous pace. Some have also suggested it's a way to lose weight, though Cheung says the exercise won't necessarily burn many more calories than more moderate walking. But he still encourages people to try the technique, saying it offers the "psychological motivation" of doing something different than a normal walk. He also urges walkers not to get hung up on the details. "It doesn't have to be kind of really regimented in terms of, there's this optimal interval of three minutes on, two minutes off," he said. "I don't want people to think, 'Oh, I need a stopwatch. I need the latest kind of tracker to do this.' Every so often, whenever you feel like it, just pick up the pace a little bit and then slow down and go back to your normal pace." Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults recommend 150 hours per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity for people aged 18 to 64, which amounts to 30 minutes, five days per week. The guidelines also recommend doing muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week. The important thing, Cheung says, is to get out and walk, regardless of how you do it. "As with any fitness trend, it's not the one magic bullet. There is no one perfect exercise for that's going to fit everyone," he said. "This is just another tool in your arsenal. If you are already used to walking, just try to add some variety by incorporating something like this."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta gov't fell short of its affordable housing goal last year: annual report
The provincial government completed fewer new or refurbished affordable housing units last year than the previous three years, according to figures in the Seniors, Community and Social Services Ministry's annual report. Provincial funding contributed to the creation of 388 new units in fiscal 2024, while another 410 households received rent supplements — payments that help people pay rent in market-housing units, the annual report says. But the combined number of 798 units and subsidies fell short of the ministry's target of 1,500 for the year, the report says "The provincial government has been failing at creating more affordable housing, particularly for low-income people," said Carolyn Whitzman, a senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto's School of Cities. Last year, the Alberta government created 641 affordable housing units — through new builds and refurbishments — and allocated 1,661 rent supplements. In the 2021 Stronger Foundations report, the province's 10-year strategy for affordable housing, the government set a goal to expand the capacity of its affordable housing system, so it could support 25,000 more households by 2032. That figure combines new builds, renovations to existing units and rent subsidies. During a media availability Friday, Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon told reporters that the provincial government is on track to reach its goal. He said providing rent supplements for existing market housing is part of the plan. "Rent supplement units are new units," Nixon said. "Taking a unit on, that would be in the open market, and creating a rent supplement for that unit creates an affordable unit that would not have been affordable before this." The annual report said an additional 1,626 units were under construction as of March 31. Nixon's press secretary, Amber Edgerton, said in a written statement that the figure in the annual report shows the projects completed within a fiscal year, and that most affordable housing projects are currently being built. "Construction of affordable housing doesn't happen in a fiscal year — these are long-term projects that will benefit Albertans for decades to come," she wrote. On Friday, Nixon and Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management and community resilience and MP for Edmonton Centre, announced that the federal and provincial governments will spend $203 million combined to build 2,300 affordable housing units across Alberta. The provincial government has spent $386 million through its Affordable Housing Partnership Program since 2022, and plans to spend another $655 million over the next three years. Provinces could do better Whitzman, the U of T researcher, sees problems with Alberta's use of subsidies to help make market housing more affordable. The payments, she said, don't always make up the difference between the rent charged for a unit and what a lower-income tenant can afford. Rent subsidies also keep tenants in the private market, which may not provide the same kind of rent stability as a unit in a community-housing or non-market unit., she said. Nixon rejects calls for Alberta to implement rent control while the province builds out its affordable housing supply. He argues rent caps provide a disincentive to developers who build new apartment and homes. Whitzman said that isn't the case in jurisdictions like Quebec, which has rent control. No provincial government is doing a great job building affordable housing, Whitzman said, but Alberta is failing on several fronts. She said Alberta has a growing rate of evictions, and that the government needs to improve benefits so people can afford to live. The Alberta government can also change the building code and provide guidance to municipalities on how they can change zoning bylaws to allow more apartment buildings, she said. Calgary, and particularly Edmonton, are doing well with zoning changes, but only because they did so on their own, Whitzman added. Opposition NDP housing critic Janis Irwin, the MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, said she isn't surprised the government fell short of its affordable-housing goals. Nixon often cites increases in market housing starts as proof Alberta is building more housing, which in turn will make more apartments available as tenants move into new homes. But Irwin argues the UCP government needs to spend more on new non-market housing, and reiterated a call to institute a rent cap. She said Nixon could spend more on new affordable housing builds, noting the government ended the 2024-25 year with a $8.2 billion surplus. "They could be using that money to invest in new affordable housing. They could be upgrading the affordable housing that we know is in disrepair," Irwin said. "We know that investments in housing will will pay dividends down the road. These should be viewed as investments and not expenses."
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Pullout exposes chinks in Sharaa's armor
Zionists claim ceasefire in Syria 'obtained by force' and 'not by demands, not by pleas' BEIRUT: Under Zionist bombardment and diplomatic pressure, Ahmed Al-Sharaa pulled troops from Syria's Druze heartland — a move that exposes the interim leader's weakness just as he sought to assert control. Since seizing office in December after ousting longtime autocrat Bashar Al-Assad, Sharaa has worked to recast himself from jihadist to statesman, even earning praise from US President Donald Trump as a 'tough guy'. But in the early hours of Thursday, he was forced to announce the withdrawal of troops from the Druze-majority city of Sweida, framing it as an effort to avoid confrontation with Zionist entity and prevent further destabilization in a country still reeling from 14 years of war. In his Thursday speech, Sharaa praised the 'effective intervention of American, Arab and Turkish mediation, which saved the region from an unknown fate'. That followed Zionist entity air strikes targeting the Syrian military headquarters and the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus. It also came amid diplomatic pressure from the United States. Gamal Mansur, a comparative politics researcher specializing in Syrian and Zionist entity studies at the University of Toronto, said he believed 'the withdrawal was imposed on the authorities due to the imbalance of power caused by Zionist entity's presence'. Syria 'was forced to retreat because its position in Sweida was not that strong and it was unable to retain the land in Sweida without a high price that would force a second Zionist entity intervention', he said. Sharaa admitted on Thursday that his options to avoid 'open war' with Zionist entity were limited. Zionist entity Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire in Syria was 'obtained by force' and 'not by demands, not by pleas'. A senior Western diplomat, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, told AFP that Sharaa 'is very aware of the situation that he is in and he is realistic'. 'He knows Syria is at a weak point and that the best option is to reach a deal with the Zionists.' Heiko Wimmen, project director for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon at International Crisis Group, said Sharaa's pullback showed he was 'making a further step towards accepting that Zionist entity basically projects power onto the doorstep of Damascus'. Since leading the overthrow of Assad, Sharaa has repeatedly said his country does not seek conflicts with its neighbors. Damascus has acknowledged holding indirect talks to reduce tensions with Zionist entity, which has occupied Syria's Golan Heights since 1967. The Zionist entity army deployed troops into the UN-patrolled zone on the Golan after the fall of Assad and launched hundreds of bombing raids. Mansur believes the Sweida events 'will place Zionist entity in a better position and with stronger negotiating terms'. The Western diplomat said that while full normalization was unlikely, Zionist entity could still reach a favorable security agreement with Syria. Sharaa and his government have been pushing for unified control of the country from Damascus, with the various armed factions, often tied to ethnic or religious identities, merged into the state's armed forces. That goal was undermined by the events in Sweida, which remains outside Damascus' direct control, and major sectarian clashes like the coastal massacres in March, during which more than 1,700 mostly Alawite civilians were killed. Sharaa's ability to control armed factions loyal to him, which include extremist groups and foreign jihadists, was heavily questioned following those incidents. Washington had previously demanded that 'foreign terrorists' leave Syria. These developments reveal 'the weakness of Sharaa's authority', Mansur said, adding the Syrian leader needed to consolidate his authority and secure control over the state's security apparatus. Additionally, the Kurds in northeastern Syria are still demanding a decentralized system despite repeated rejections by Damascus. Bedran Ciya Kurd, a senior official in the autonomous administration, said on Thursday that Damascus should 'review' its attitude towards minorities. Syria's Kurds may be in a stronger position after the Sweida clashes, according to Wimmen, who said there was now a 'big question mark' over the idea of full integration with Damascus. The Kurds now have 'many reasons to be very careful about any form of integration', he said. — AFP
