Your Health

What's out of sight should not be out of mind.

Outdoor air contaminants come from both natural and human sources.  Natural sources include smoke from forest fires, wind-blown dust from soil and volcanoes, bacteria, fungi and chemicals released by plants and animals.  However, air pollution is primarily associated with everyday human activities.  Pollutants are released by motor vehicles, industrial processes (pulp and paper mills, ore smelters, petroleum refineries, power generating stations and incinerators), and the burning of fossil fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood.

Air pollutants can be carried thousands of miles across borders and oceans or from one urban area to another.  This phenomenon is common around the world and is referred to as "long-range atmospheric transport" or "transboundary pollution". (1) Therefore, what happens in the Industrial yards, doesn't stay in the Industrial yards.

 red plume.jpg(4)

Question is, what are we as Hamiltonians exposed to? In other words, what's in our air?

There are two air pollutants that are particularly problematic here in Hamilton - Benzene and Benzo(a)Pyrene.  Both of these chemicals are known to cause cancer and both are emitted into our air at higher levels than in any other community in the province (in 2008, AM-Dofasco contributed to 81% of the city`s, and almost 60% of the province's total emissions of B(a)P, and close to 50% of all Benzene emitted in  the city).

The Ministry of Environment has taken a more innovative, modernized approach to pollutant threshold setting, with your health at the top of their list.  However, the government still needs to hear from the public that we want tough standards - otherwise there is the danger that they may dilute their efforts or weaken the new standards in response to pressure from other stakeholders.

More about Benzene and Benzo(a)Pyrene:

Benzene and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) are cancer-causing chemicals that are released into air as unwanted by-products of a number of industrial processes.  In Hamilton, coke-making for the steel industry is the main source of these contaminants.  The chart below illustrates AM-Dofasco’s projected levels of maximum benzene and B(a)P emission levels and how they compare to the new proposed standards for these pollutants. The chart emphasizes that action needs to be taken to lower benzene and B(a)P emissions to protect our health:

Pollutant

Maximum Concentration* (ug/m3, 24-hr avg.)

Proposed Standard (ug/m3  24-hr avg.)

Magnitude by which maximum concentrations exceed proposed standards

B(a)P

0.0884

0.00005 ug/m3

1768 times

Benzene

642.2

2.3 ug/m3

279 times

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ministry of Environment has proposed new standards for benzene at 2.3ug/m3 and B(a)P at 0.00005 ug/m3 (based on a 24h average). The ministry believes that these standards will be protective of human and environmental health. Studies have shown that these chemicals are easily absorbed into the body and broken down. Exposure to benzene has been found to be most problematic in a chronic, low-dose scenario. Certain form of cancer, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are linked to benzene compounds, while laboratory research has shown that B(a)P causes tumour growth in the digestive tracts of rats. Currently, there are no legal limits for these chemical substances; only B(a)P has a non-enforceable "guideline" of 0.0011 ug/m3. It is critical that the public support goverment efforts to establish legally enforceable standards for these chemicals.

 

Other Problematic Compounds:

SULPHUR DIOXIDE

What is sulphur dioxide?
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a colourless gas, belonging to the family of gases called sulphur oxides (SOx). SO2 smells like burnt matches. Natural sources of sulphur dioxide include releases from volcanoes, oceans, biological decay and forest fires. The most important man-made sources of sulphur dioxide are fossil fuel combustion, smelting, manufacture of sulphuric acid, conversion of wood pulp to paper, incineration of refuse and production of elemental sulphur. Coal burning is the single largest man-made source of sulphur dioxide. (2)

SO2 can cause breathing problems in people with asthma, but at relatively high levels of exposure.  There is some evidence that exposure to elevated SO2 levels may increase hospital admissions and premature deaths. (1)

 

TRS- TOTAL REDUCED SULPHUR

What are total reduced sulphur compounds?
The main compounds that make-up TRS are hydrogen sulphide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide. Most studies examine this mixture. These compounds are odourous at low very concentrations and relate to rotten eggs smell. Industrial sources of TRS include the steel industry, pulp and paper mills, refineries and sewage treatment facilities. (2)

TRS compounds are not normally considered a health hazard, although each component has its own characteristics and effects. The most commonly reported health concerns related to TRS substances are nausea and headaches.  TSR are, however, a primary cause of odours. Total reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) produce offensive odours similar to rotten eggs or cabbage. (3)

 

(NO) NITRIC OXIDE, (NO2) NITROGEN DIOXIDE, (NOx) OXIDES OF NITROGREN

What are Oxides of Nitrogen?
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) include the gases nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NOx is formed primarily from nitrogen contained in fuel and nitrogen contained in combustion air during combustion processes. NO emitted during combustion quickly oxidizes to NO2 in the atmosphere. NO2 is a reddish-brown gas with a pungent and irritating odour. It transforms in the air to form gaseous nitric acid and toxic organic nitrates. NO2 also plays a major role in atmospheric reactions that produce ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Transportation, power generation, primary metal production and incineration are sources contributing to NOx emissions. (2)

At elevated levels, NOx can impair lung function, irritate the respiratory system and, at very high levels, make breathing difficult, especially for people who already suffer form asthma or bronchitis. (1)

 

 

(TSP) TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE, (PM10) INHALABLE PARTICULATE

What is particulate matter?
Particulate matter (PM) consists of airborne particles in solid or liquid form. It includes aerosols, smoke, fumes, dust, ash and pollen. Particulate matter is characterized according to size - mainly because of the different health effects associated with particles of different diameters. Some particles are emitted directly into the atmosphere. Other particles result from gases that are transformed into particles through physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere. Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) -airborne particulate matter with an upper size limit of approximately 100 micro metre (µm) in aerodynamic equivalent diameter. Particulate Matter <10 microns (PM10) - also referred to inhalable particulates, are airborne particulate matter with a mass median diameter less than 10 µm. A variety of emission sources and meteorological conditions contribute to ambient PM10. Particulate Matter < 2.5 microns (PM2.5) – also referred to as respirable particulates are airborne particulate matter with a mass median diameter less than 2.5 µm. (2)

Short-term exposure to airborne particles at the levels typically found in urban areas in North America is associated with a variety of adverse effects.  Particulates can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause coughing, breathing difficulties, reduced lung function and an increased use of asthma medication.  Exposure to particulates is also associated with an increase in the number of emergency department visits, an increase in hospitalizations of people with cardiac and respiratory disease and in premature mortality. (1)

 

Are You At Risk?

Check out:

 http://www.ec.gc.ca/cas-aqhi/default.asp?lang=En&n=8727DF6F-1 

 

For additional informaton, please visit:

http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/Health_Concerns-WSC8A1FE65-1_En.htm 

http://www.airqualityontario.com/

 

Information on this page sourced from:

(1) http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/out-ext/effe/talk-a_propos-eng.php

(2) http://www.hamnair.ca/Airborne-Pollutant-Descriptions.aspx

(3) http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/info/trsc.php 

(4) http://hamiltonstacks.blogspot.com