Horwath calls for health study to look at air pollution impacts in Hamilton

Today Ontario NDP Leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath called on the Wynne Liberals to commit to a study to measure the impact of cumulative air pollution on the health of Hamilton families.

“For years, Hamilton families have been exposed to a toxic cocktail of different chemicals, and we have no idea how our health has been affected,” said Horwath.

Last week, after years of delay, the Wynne Liberals finally released a draft proposal to regulate cumulative air pollution in hot spots like those in Hamilton, Sudbury and Sarnia. But as groups like Environment Hamilton have noted, this proposal will do absolutely nothing to reduce existing air pollution in the city.

Ecojustice said, “This proposal is disappointing — it essentially amounts to business as usual.”

“Levels of Benzene and Benzo[a]pyrene, highly carcinogenic chemicals, are well above provincial guidelines in Hamilton and have been for years. The government’s draft proposal is not going to do a single thing to reduce existing levels of air pollution,” said Horwath.

The NDP Leader argues that any regulation of air pollution in Hamilton must start with a complete understanding of the current impacts of cumulative air pollution on the health of Hamilton families.

“Hamilton families need to know what the air they breathe is doing to their health, and they deserve to breathe air that is safe – right now, neither of these is the case,” Horwath finished.