Until a few weeks ago I thought living in the countryside is the solution to escape air pollution in cities. But a report about Prince Edward Island (PEI) on the East coast of Canada revealed that the asthma rates on the island are the highest in the country although there’s no industry there. The reason seems to be the monoculture of potatoes widely grown on PEI and sprayed with pesticides as frequently as every 4 days! A mother interviewed for the documentary stated that the breathing problems of her daughter practically disappear when they leave PEI for holidays.
I wonder. Living in areas of high cattle density such as Lethbridge, Southern Alberta should consequently come along with lots of exposure to the greenhouse gas methane which is emitted by cows. I have not heard about any ill-effects of it though – let me know if you have. Maybe methane in the air acts differently than pesticides and fertilizers and the effect on our health is not quite as obvious. Isn't it terrible that even living in the countryside is not any more what it used to be?! Now I have to be careful about what is grown and raised in that particular countryside that I want to move to!
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