COMMUNITY HEALTH

Understanding the quality of the air you and your family are breathing is important to maintaining a happy and healthy life. Many harmful contaminants cannot be seen and produce delayed or long termed impacts such as certain cancers and neurological effects to your brain. Air quality issues are common in heavily populated areas or where there is a lot of industry. The combustion of fossil fuels and burning of coal are significant contributors to declining health in urban areas by creating higher levels of particulate matter, carcinogenic compounds, NOx, SOx and heavy metals. Larger operations and processes such as steelmaking contribute significantly to the air quality that impacts our health and the environment. 

 
Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10) – Heavy industry such as steel plants release high amounts of particulate matter. They range in size from nuisance (PM44) to the smaller sizes like PM 2.5 and PM 10 that adversely effect our health by increasing the frequency of certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and worsening pre-existing conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). 

 
Benzene, Benzo-a-pyrene– These group of compounds are cancer causing and released in the burning of coal and fossil fuels. Operations such as cokemaking at steel plants, release levels high enough to be equivalent to heavy traffic in areas with a larger population. These compounds cause an increased occurrence of rare cancers such as certain leukemias and bladder cancer.

 
NOx and SOx – These gases contain Nitrogen (NOx) and Sulfur (SOx) which are not only greenhouses gases but have health impacts. They can cause irritation and inflammation of cardiovascular tissues and organs. Higher levels have a greater impact on people with heart conditions and asthma. NOx has been linked in studies of neurological disorders. 

 
Heavy Metals- Many heavy metals are poisonous and can lead to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. Industrial processes release a wide range of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium VI, cadmium and manganese. 

There is clear evidence that living closer to locations where there are industrial emissions will have a greater impact on your health. Many of the contaminants in industrial emissions stay close to the source but they can also remain in the air and travel to other areas of the city. Many neighbourhoods, recreational areas, and places like the boardwalk where we exercise are exposed to these emissions. There has been over a decade of concerns from the public regarding the deficiencies in the air monitoring network in Sault Ste. Marie. It is very concerning considering our increased exposure to industrial sources of emissions.
 

Despite public concerns over higher rates of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, Algoma Public Health (APH) has not conducted local studies on the potential environmental impacts of industrial emissions on our health. APH environmental health officers are not assigned to actively research the local effects of these emissions to determine how they impact our health. Dr. Jennifer Loo (APH CEO) has suggested that the higher occurrence of certain cancers in Sault Ste. Marie can be attributed to lifestyle choices such as smoking. However, APH's assessment is not based on data specifically for Sault Ste. Marie where there is a higher exposure to contaminants from industry such as Algoma Steel Inc. (ASI). For years, ASI's operations have produced high levels of particulate matter and carcinogenic compounds such as benzene and benzo-a-pyrene with no local studies to determine the impact of these contaminants on our health.

APH has members on the Algoma Community Liaison Committee (ACLC). This committee is required by the ministry to keep the public informed about the operations of ASI and concerns from the public. There has been very little active participation by APH at ACLC meetings to address public health concerns and issues related to potential impacts of their operations on our local air quality. ASI is responsible for operating our air quality network and presenting the results from the air monitors.  On multiple occasions, ASI did not present data for benzene levels.  This is required as a condition for their Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA). Algoma Public Health and its CLC members have not requested this information be made available to the public despite this requirement. 

Although, health impacts of fine particulate (PM 2.5) are greater closer ASI, the ministry removed a monitor in 2003 at Patrick St. near ASI that measured PM 2.5. In 2005, air quality concerns and issues were documented in a report "Breathing Easy" that was written by David Trowbridge (ACLC public member), Cecilia Fernandez and Anne O’Connor.  This report was submitted to former Sault Ste. Marie M.P. Tony Martin (NDP). These concerns and issues were brought to the attention of the Ministry of the Environment but were never resolved exposing us to unknown levels of fine particulates and carcinogens like benzene.

APH has provided very little public education on the impacts of industrial emissions on our health or how to avoid exposure to higher levels. As the agency responsible for our health, APH has not ensured that they have taken reasonable measures to research the potential risks due to industrial contaminants and how they impact our local air quality.  More public action and involvement is needed to request APH to undertake a study to evaluate environmental impacts from industrial emissions. Without local studies, APH cannot provide the public with the assurance that higher rates of cancer can be explained by our lifestyle choices.