Posted on: 09-12-04 10:49:49
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1102515491455_37
The amount of toxic chemicals being released into Canada's air, land and water has gone up by half in the last 10 years, says a new environmental report.
The study by two environmental groups, called Shattering the Myth of Pollution Progress in Canada, compares chemicals between 1995 and 2002, based on data from the federal government's National Pollutant Release Inventory.
The survey says emissions were up nationwide by 49 per cent between 1995 and 2002 -- the latest year for which figures are available. Toxic chemicals released into the air increased 21 per cent. While toxic chemicals released into the water had increased by 137 per cent.
Provincially, Ontario had the largest amount of toxic chemicial releases in 2002, followed by Alberta and Quebec.
The report was prepared by the Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association. The groups say the increases came despite 1999 federal legislation that commits the government to preventing pollution.
"It is clear that, despite years of government and industry rhetoric, the goal of pollution prevention has yet to be realized in Canada," the report says.
The report listed the country's top 25 polluters, and at the top of the list was the Inco Ltd. nickel smelter at Copper Cliff, Ont., near Sudbury.
In one positive piece of news, the report says air emission of carcinogens into the air and water have dropped across Canada between 1995 and 2002. The emission of carcinogens into the air is down 39 per cent, and nine per cent for water.
However, in 2002, 7,007,091 kilogarms of carcinogens were released into he air, and about 176,030 were released into the water.
Vitafoam Products Canada Ltd. in Toronto was listed as the top emitter of carcinogens, according to the report.
While carcinogens have decreased, air emissions of pollutants associated with reproductive and developmental harm have increased 10 per cent from 1995 to 2002.
The company that emits the largest amount of chemicals associated with these harms is Shell Canada Limited, located in Caroline, Alta., according to the report.
The study says the top polluters were not the top employers in the country.
The report released Wednesday is available at the website http://www.pollutionwatch.org." rel="nofollow">LINK It is based on data from the federal government's National Pollutant Release Inventory
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Is it really this bad?
I consider Mississauga a very clean in all repects place, especially compared to toronto.
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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
Quote:That is because you are comparing only the "visible" pollution, such as smog, smoke, etc.
Orginally posted by mercury6
Is it really this bad?
I consider Mississauga a very clean in all repects place, especially compared to toronto.
But that is only a small percentage of the environmental poisons.
There are a far greater number of pollutants that are not visible to the human eye.
Mississauaga is only a few miles from downtown Toronto - also, there are certain areas that overlap within Mississauga and Toronto.
That distance is nothing in terms of pollution spreading.
Tiny particles of pollutants travel great distances.
In Canada, the worst pollutants come from the US.
However, recently I read a news report that said we (in Canada) are getting pollution from across the great pond - from China, Hong Kong, SE Asia, etc.
The northern-most reaches of Canada (in the upper Tundra) has levels of pollution never seen before in the history of the earth, which is destroying the delicate balance of that ecosystem.
And, of course the Europeans have been complaining for several years that they get a lot of pollution from the US.
As long as Govt. protection of the polluting industries continue, there is nothing that can be done - things will steadily get worse.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Interesting.
I dont expect the US to move on pollution control (read Kyoto) anytime soon (read at least another 4 years). Quite sad.
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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
