POWER PLANT. HEALTH RISKS.

C4CA Health Facts

The following is important health information brought to you by the C4CA health committee. This document is an excellent piece to reference when looking for facts regarding the impact on health. There is a link to view the entire document as a PDF file when you go to C4CA Health Facts. (Right column under Latest News. C4CA Health Facts)

1. In terms of human health, air pollution is the most harmful environmental problem in Canada today “…causing thousands of deaths, millions of cases of illness, billions of dollars in health care expenses, and tens of billions of dollars in lost productivity every year.” To put the issue in context, the David Suzuki Foundation notes “…the magnitude of deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution in Canada is equivalent to a Walkerton water disaster happening on a da ily basis.”

2. Air pollution in Halton and Peel is directly linked to numerous premature deaths and excess hospital admissions that cost the health care system and society millions of dollars every year. According to the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), air pollution in 2005 was responsible for: • 190 premature deaths and 540 hospital admissions in Halton • 370 premature deaths and 1240 hospital admissions in Peel • estimated health care costs of $56.82M for Halton and Peel, and • estimated lost productivity costs of $45.82M for Halton and Peel.

3. The health impacts of air pollution in Halton and Peel are accelerating. According to the OMA, air pollution in 2008 was responsible for: • 336 premature deaths in Halton • 700 premature deaths in Peel These numbers are considerably higher than projections made in 2005.

4. With respect to human health, the air pollutants of principal concern are particulate matter (PM), ground level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide.4 Particulate matter is usually described as either PM10 or PM2.5. The term PM10 includes coarse particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometres in diameter and also fine particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. Of all these pollutants, the bulk of adverse health effects are caused by inhalation of fine particulate matter or PM2.5

5. We are all susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution but certain groups are more vulnerable. Children, the elderly, and those with diabetes or chronic heart or lung disease are the most likely to be affected, especially by PM2.5

6. Children are at particularly increased risk from air contaminants because their lungs are still developing. Children have higher rates of inhalation than adults and possess a larger lung surface area per unit of body weight that leads to proportionately greater exposures. Current levels of air pollution have been shown to have chronic, adverse effects on lung development in children.

7. Numerous scientific studies have linked PM2.5 exposure to: a. airway irritation, coughing, breathing difficulties b. decreased lung function, development of chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma c. cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and stroke

8. Size matters. The size of PM pollution particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. PM2.5 poses the greatest threat because it consists of microscopic particles that escape capture in the upper airway. These particles can then enter and lodge deep in the lungs, thus enabling the initiation of adverse effects.

9. There are no known “safe” levels of PM2.5 or ground-level ozone in ambient air. Gas-fired power plants emit PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen dioxide is a precursor of both ground-level ozone and PM2.5. Any reduction in these pollutants will therefore have a health benefit, and any increase will have a health cost.

10. The Clarkson Airshed is already toxic. An Ontario Ministry of the Environment study in 2006 found that this airshed experienced PM2.5 levels that exceeded the benchmark of 30 µg/m3 for the entire study period (2003-2005). Nothing has happened since that would have reduced this level, and building a 900 MW gas-fired generator in the Oakville-Clarkson vicinity will only add to the toxicity of this airshed.

11. Statements that there will be no additional adverse health impacts associated with the building of a gas-fired power plant in Oakville-Clarkson ignore current global best practices aimed at curbing the cumulative effect of air pollutants. The Whitford study concluded that the health impact would be minimal because exposure would be within existing regulatory limits. However, this conclusion assumes that current regulatory limits exist that are protective of health, which is not the case. Adverse health effects of PM2.5 are observed at all levels of exposure, indicating that within any large population, there is a wide range of susceptibility and some people are at risk even at the lowest end of the observed concentration ranges.

There is a link to view the entire document as a PDF file when you go to C4CA Health Facts. (Right column under Latest News. C4CA Health Facts)