CPHA 2014 Cumulative Impacts of Air Pollution Mapped at a Neighbourhood Level Stephanie Gower...

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

12

• 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

More Information

sgower@toronto.ca

www.toronto.ca/health/reports