cpha 2014 cumulative impacts of air pollution mapped at a neighbourhood level stephanie gower...
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CPHA 2014
Cumulative Impacts of Air Pollution Mapped at a Neighbourhood Level
Stephanie Gower
Toronto Public Health
May 27, 2014
Co-authors: Ronald Macfarlane, Christopher Morgan, Marco Belmont, and Kate Bassil
Air Pollution in Toronto
On average, air pollution in Toronto from all sources currently gives rise to 1,300 premature deaths and 3,550 hospitalizations annually
Concern at the neighbourhood level
3Image Source: http://worldneighborhoods.com
• Community concern about– Impact of local sources– Cumulative impacts– Air toxics
• Led to first in a series of local air quality studies
Local Air Quality Studies: Partnership
Air Quality Modellers• Model ambient
concentrations• Estimate sector
contributions to pollution
Public Health Staff• Substance selection• Cumulative Health
impacts
Substances included in the studies
1. Acetaldehyde2. Acrolein3. Benzene4. 1,3-Butadiene5. Cadmium6. Carbon tetrachloride7. Chloroform8. Chloromethane9. Chromium10. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene11. 1,2-Dichloroethane12. Dichloromethane13. Ethylene dibromide14. Formaldehyde15. Lead
16. Manganese17. Mercury18. Nickel compounds19. Nitrogen Oxides20. PAHs (as B[a]Ps)21. PM2.522. Tetrachloroethylene23. Toluene24. Trichloroethylene25. Vinyl Chloride26. Carbon Monoxide27. PM1028. Sulfur Dioxide29. VOC (anthropogenic/Biogenic)30. Ozone
5Based on Substances in Toronto’s Chemtrac Program
Findings: Sources of air pollution in Toronto
6
Northeast US39%
SouthernOntario
25%
16%
12%
4%
4%
Toronto36%
Residential + Commercial
Mobile
Non-Road Mobile
Industrial
Findings: NO2 as an example
7South Riverdale and Beaches
Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Findings: Ambient Concentrations
• Most substances met Ontario’s ambient air quality criteria (AAQCs)
• Five substances are present at levels that exceed air quality standards or guidelines:– Nitrogen Oxides– Benzene– Benzo[a]pyrene*– Particulate Matter < 10 microns
(PM10)– Particulate Matter < 2.5 microns
(PM2.5)
8*Results for benzo[a]pyrene require further validation
Image: Google earth
Air Pollution and Health
• Toronto Public Health assessed cumulative health impacts for three types of substances:– Threshold-acting air toxics
– Carcinogens
– Criteria air pollutants
9
Threshold-acting air toxics
• Substances that may be associated with health effects such as– Developmental– Neurological– Reproductive
• Substances that are assumed to have a threshold for effects 10
Cumulative Hazard Ratio
Carcinogens
11
• Substances that are associated with a risk of cancer
• Assumed to have no threshold for effect
Cumulative Lifetime Cancer Risk
Criteria Air Contaminants
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• Pollutants that are associated mainly with higher risks of heart and lung diseases
• Assumed to have no threshold for effect
Cumulative excess risk of premature death
Conclusions
• Magnitude of risk are consistent across the first two studies
• For many substances of greatest concern, locally generated emissions are mainly from transportation sources
• Increased energy efficiency at home and in businesses will also help improve local air quality
• Reductions in emissions outside Toronto will also help improve air quality in the city
13
© Ontario - Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Infrastructure
Source: http://worldneighborhoods.com
Benefits and Next Steps
• Benefits– Community Engagement– Communication tool– Prioritize sectors of interest for pollution prevention– Can spur action from facilities
• Next Steps– Community
Animators– More
neighbourhoods
