Today is your day Boomer! As we launch into September this weekend, I look forward to lower temperatures and clearer skies. Forest fire smoke has dominated my life in B.C. for the past few weeks and I worry about its overall health effect on my lungs. A new study confirms this. According to CTV News, the report states that "particulate pollution can reduce the global average life expectancy by 2.3 years. That’s slightly higher than tobacco use, which reduces global life expectancy by 2.2 years." Now, I should emphasize that this is exposure over consistent, long periods of time and "can cause lung diseases, respiratory issues, and also affect the cardiovascular system and lead to strokes or heart attacks." Climate change means longer fire times, but it should also make city-dwelling Boomers think about where they live. Big cities like Toronto and Montreal have much more consistent smog and pollution than smaller urban areas like Kelowna. As an example in Bangladesh, the country with the highest pollution levels in 2021, a citizen stands to lose an average 6.8 years of life! Yikes! Smog for thought today Boomers! Cheers.

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