Latest news with #CanadianEnvironmentalProtectionAct
Hamilton Spectator
08-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Benzene alert blamed on ‘messaging system error'
An alert issued this week by INEOS Styrolution about elevated benzene levels at its Sarnia facility has since been retracted, with the company citing a 'messaging system error.' A follow-up clarification was issued today, stating that no exceedances occurred on May 5. The original message, distributed through the Sarnia-Lambton Alerts system on May 5, stated that 'hourly benzene emissions on-site have been detected above 0.021 parts-per million (67.5 µg/m³).' That figure matches the company's internal 'proactive alert' threshold — a level set below Ontario's regulatory one-hour ambient air quality criterion (AAQC) for benzene of 90 µg/m³ (approximately 0.028 ppm). A second message, issued at 7:06 a.m. on May 7, repeated the same language from the original alert and described the notification as a 'proactive precaution.' INEOS stated that emissions reduction efforts would be identified if abnormal conditions were present, and emphasized that no adverse effects were expected. Later that same day, a correction was issued at 3:01 p.m., reading: 'CORRECTION to the notifications sent May 5th [10:53 and 11:09 a.m.] Due to a messaging system error, two community notifications were incorrectly distributed yesterday. We would like to clarify that no on-site emissions at our Sarnia facility have exceeded 0.021 parts per million (67.5 µg/m³) on May 5, 2025.' INEOS has not explained why the May 7, 7:06 a.m. alert repeated the exceedance language just hours before issuing the correction. As of publication, no retraction or clarification has appeared on the BASES (Binational Air Quality and Environmental Strategy) public notification platform, where the original alert was posted. In response to questions from The Sarnia Journal, INEOS said the company uses a proactive alert threshold of 0.021 ppm to notify the public before reaching Ontario's regulatory limit. The company confirmed that no exceedances occurred on May 5, 6, or 7 and that emissions remained below the 90 µg/m³ limit. However, it did not address questions about whether that threshold was exceeded on other dates, the cause of the messaging error, or what safeguards exist to prevent similar notification issues in the future. OOntario's one-hour air quality limit for benzene, the maximum amount allowed in outdoor air over a one-hour period, is 90 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). INEOS's internal alert threshold (67.5 µg/m³) represents approximately 75% of that regulatory limit and is described by the company as a proactive measure to inform the community in advance of any regulatory breach. Benzene is a volatile organic compound used in petrochemical processing and plastics manufacturing. It is listed as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Long-term exposure can increase the risk of leukemia and other blood disorders, while short-term exposure to high levels may cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or drowsiness. The alerts were issued during INEOS Styrolution's ongoing benzene removal plan at the Sarnia site, which includes pipeline transfers and the emptying of an on-site benzene tank. The company has stated that emissions controls are in place and no off-site health impacts are anticipated. This article was created with support from advanced editorial tools and reviewed by our team to ensure accuracy and fairness. Learn more .
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Government moves to eliminate harmful substance linked to lasting health risks: 'A significant step forward'
Just like their closest neighbors to the south, Canada is proposing a gradual phasing out of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Often referred to as "forever chemicals," PFAS have been used in products such as cookware, personal care products, and even food packaging. The EPA has linked PFAS exposure to possible health problems like cancer and increased cholesterol levels, though more studies are needed to determine the exact connection. In a press release, the Canadian government laid out a plan it says will protect "the health of Canadians, as well as safeguarding the environment." As part of that plan, the government will propose the addition of PFAS to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. As reported by the United Nations Environment Programme, PFAS can last up to several thousand years. This can lead to an increase of waste that is unable to break down inside our landfills. According to the proposal, the government would enact "Phase 1" starting in 2025, which would address PFAS in firefighting foams. Concerns over the presence of PFAS in fire countermeasures have pressured communities like New Jersey to seek alternative solutions. In "Phase 2," products with PFAS that are "not needed for the protection of human health, safety, or the environment" will also be phased out. This includes cosmetics, food packaging materials, and textiles. Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change, noted the importance of moving to ban PFAS. "Today, the government is taking a significant step forward to better protect workers, firefighters, and all Canadians from 'forever chemicals,'" Guilbeault said in a statement. "Science shows that the ongoing use of PFAS can harm both the environment and human health. With this announcement, we are leading the way with our partners — including Indigenous peoples and industry experts — to protect not only the health of our ecosystems and Canadians but also the resilience of our economy." Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBC
19-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Adding PFAS to toxic substances list won't necessarily lead to stricter guidelines for drinking water
Social Sharing A class of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) could be added to Canada's list of toxic substances, but it's unlikely to have an immediate effect on communities already contaminated with the "forever chemicals," such as North Bay, Ont. In early March, Environment and Climate Change Canada announced it would move to add PFAS to the country's official toxic substances list. Because they don't break down easily and are great at repelling water, PFAS are found in a number of everyday products including outdoor clothing, non-stick pans, cosmetics and even some food packaging. Cassie Barker, the senior program manager at Environmental Defence for toxics, says certain types of PFAS have been found to harm the kidneys and immune system. "It harms the endocrine system," she said. "The basic building blocks of your body are being interfered with by very small levels of PFAS." In North Bay, the Department of National Defence (DND) conducted firefighting training exercises from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s at the city's Jack Garland Airport with aqueous film-forming foams that contain PFAS. Over that time, the foams seeped into groundwater and contaminated wells and Trout Lake, the source of drinking water for the city of 52,000. Ontario's Ministry of the Environment has an interim advice value, or recommendation, for PFAS in drinking water that is 70 nanograms per litre. Those values are based on guidelines from Health Canada and are equivalent to 3.5 drops in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The ministry tests Trout Lake for 11 substances that fall within the PFAS family and in 2023 the average measurement for those chemicals was 56 nanograms per litre. Toxic substances list opens door for regulations If PFAS are added to Canada's toxic substances list, though, it would not result in any immediate changes to regulations. "Adding a substance to Schedule 1 of CEPA ( Canadian Environmental Protection Act) does not in and of itself restrict or prohibit the substance; rather, it enables risk management instruments to be developed such as regulations under the Act," Environment Canada said in an email to CBC News. Environment Canada has published a proposed risk management plan for PFAS, which could lead to banning the use of PFAS in consumer products and firefighting foams. That would reduce any future PFAS contamination into the environment, but would not affect drinking water standards, as those are managed by Health Canada. Stricter drinking water guidelines Last summer, Health Canada updated its objective value for the sum concentration of 25 types of PFAS in drinking water to 30 nanograms per litre. North Bay's measurements from 2023 exceed that. As the provincial regulator, Ontario's Ministry of the Environment said it is currently "reviewing the basis of Health Canada's new objective and will assess the applicability for its use in Ontario and the best way to implement it." In the meantime, North Bay has been working with DND on a $20-million plan to remediate the site at the airport where PFAS seeped into the environment. City spokesperson Gord Young said they've removed 23,000 tonnes of contaminated soil from the site so far. "Adsorptive material is also being injected at excavated hot spots, with this phase expected to be completed by early May," Young said in an email to CBC News. Young said the next phase of the cleanup will be to add underground barriers to keep water from seeping out of the area. That work is scheduled to start in early 2026.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Driver hit with massive fine after overloaded fuel tank spills into crucial waterways: 'A serious offense'
A Quebecois man was hit with a massive fine after a huge fuel spill polluted crucial waterways in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. According to Punch, transport company driver Daniel Chayer was fined $35,000 for violations of the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. In 2021, Chayer was delivering fuel to a car rental company in Dorval, when he mistakenly attempted to transfer 20,000 liters (about 5,283 gallons) of gasoline into a 5,000-liter (1,321-gallon) tank, causing massive overflow. The full 15,000 excess liters (nearly 4,000 gallons) flowed into the area storm drain system and then Bouchard Creek, a key fish-carrying waterway that feeds into Lake Saint-Louis. Besides contaminating a water source that many Canadian communities rely on, this spill harmed the wildlife as well. "Depositing a harmful substance into waters frequented by fish, or in any location where it may enter such waters, is a serious offence under the Fisheries Act," an Environment and Climate Change Canada spokesperson said, per Punch. "Additionally, failure to comply with regulations governing petroleum storage tank systems constitutes a violation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999." It was deemed that Chayer was negligent in following procedure, and didn't check the identification number on the tank, which would have prevented the calamity from happening. According to Punch, the contamination posed a significant threat to aquatic life and the local ecosystem. Apart from the threat posed by pollution from gasoline, it is a massive threat to the environment in either its refined or unrefined forms. A huge spill in Russian waters could have catastrophic effects on the surrounding ecosystem, and weather patterns have made cleanup difficult. In Nigeria, a Shell oil pipeline ruptured at a refinery, the latest in a long line of issues at the site. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In this case, Canadian authorities were quick to act and emphasized the importance of following correct procedure. "We take incidents like this very seriously and will continue working to protect Canada's air, water, and natural environment," the agency stated. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBC
05-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Proposal to add PFAS to toxic substances list is ‘unprecedented,' minister says
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault announced on Wednesday that the federal government is proposing that PFAS be added to the list of toxic substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Asked why Ottawa hasn't moved faster to ban these substances, Guilbeault said the government is 'trying to go as fast as we can within the confines of the laws and regulations.'
