How Clean is Your Air and What
Can You Do About It
Denis Corr, Ph. D.
Corr Research
www.corr-research.com
Upwind Downwind Conference
Acknowledgements
Clean Air Hamilton
Green Venture
Julie Wallace, Ph. D.
J. Wallace Associates
Pat DeLuca
Centre for Spatial Analysis
McMaster University
Mobile Monitoring of
Neighbourhoods in Hamilton,
City Air Quality Trends
TSP
PM2.5
NO2
ROTEK
SO2
Downtown
Air Quality Monitoring Specialists
Industry
1952
Great Fog, London , England
11,000 deaths
Epidemiology
Current Summary of Percent Changes in
Acute Mortality per 10 Units of Pollutant
Talar Sahsuvaroglu, PhD, Senes 2012
Air Pollutant
NT Mortality
(changes per 10 pollution
units)
Respiratory Hospital
Admissions
(changes per 10 pollution
units)
Cardiovascular Hospital
Admissions (changes per
10 pollution units)
PM2.5 (µg/m3)
0.77
-
0.8
PM10 (µg/m3)
0.45
2.1*
0.7
SO2 (ppb)
0.36
3.0
1.1*
NO2 (ppb)
0.68
4.9*
0.94
CO (ppm)
1.7
-
1.95*
O3 (ppb)
0.72
2.8*
0.2
Deaths from
Air Pollution
Each Year
Deaths from
Air Pollution
Each Year
(Ontario Medical Association 2008)
Toronto 2,100
Peel
700
Hamilton 186 - 440
Halton
330
Health Effects/Mortality
Exposure to PM2.5 over a few hours to weeks can trigger cardiovascular
disease–related mortality and nonfatal events;
Longer-term exposure (eg, a few years) increases the risk for cardiovascular
mortality to an even greater extent
Greater risk may include the elderly, patients with preexisting coronary
artery disease, and perhaps those with diabetes. Recent data suggest
that women and obese individuals might also be at higher risk.
Brook et al, Circulation 2010, 121:2331-2378:
80% of mortality is in over 65 year old group
Ontario Medical association 2008
For every $ of govt funds to reduce air pollution exposures, approx $50 to
$150 is saved in the health care system and productivity
Corr Research 2012
Air Quality Health Index
http://www.hamilton.ca/HealthandSocialServices/PublicHealth/AirQualityHealthIndexInfo.htm
How Clean is Your Air?
Not Clean Enough
Turning Science into
Action
Mobile Monitoring
What and where
Is the air pollution
Affecting the health
Of the people of Hamilton
Mobile Command Centre
Instrument Rack Mounts
Equipment for Mobile Monitoring








Mobile platform with minimum 30 amp
electrical supply and A/C
Carbon Monoxide Continuous Monitor
Nitrogen Oxides Continuous Monitor
Sulphur Dioxide Continuous Monitor
Particulate Continuous Monitor
Two GPS
Data Collection and Handling
Geographic Information Systems
Industry
Emission Sources by Regions in Hamilton
Flamborough
/Waterdown
NE Ind
Stny Crk
East Mtn
National Pollutant Release Inventory
Total Point Source Emissions by Contaminant
Tonnes
CO
SOx
NOx
PM10
30,632
11,875
8,188
2,010
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
Tonnes
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
CO
SOx
NOx
PM10
What We’d Expect to See

Carbon Monoxide
– 66% Transportation, 23% Industry

Sulphur Dioxide
– 92% Industry, 5% Transportation

Nitrogen Oxides
– 57% Transportation, 37% Industry

PM10
– 73% Open Sources/Road Dust, 18% Industry
Note:
MOE identified trackout/road dust resuspension as a major
problem
Residential
Sample
NO ppb
De c em b e r 8 , 20 0 5
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Traffic Exposure and Myocardial Infarction
Augsburg
3
2.5
2
Odds Ratio 1.5
1
0.5
0
Traffic
Adjusted
Bicycle
Adjusted
Getting
Up
Outside
(Higher Impacts on Women and Over 60s)
Exposure to Traffic and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction,
A. Peters et al, NEJM, Oct 21, 2004
High Pollution Triangle
Traffic Modelling
Julie Wallace, CSPA, McMaster
NO
March 9th 2007
Traffic
Traffic
Industry
Traffic
School Study
Morning – Idling Vehicles
Monitoring Vehicle at School
15:54
15:48
15:42
15:36
15:30
Morning
Student
Dropoff
15:24
15:18
15:12
15:06
15:00
14:54
14:48
14:42
14:36
14:30
14:24
14:18
14:12
14:06
14:00
30
9:11
9:05
8:59
ppb
35
Natural
Experiment
Afternoon
Student
Pickup
25
20
NO (ppb)
15
10
5
0
Afternoon – Vehicle Engines Off
Trackout/Diesel Trucks
PM10 ROAD DUST
Ben Garden, Savas Kanaroglou, Pat DeLuca, Spatial analysis Unit, McMaster University
Workshop Dec 11 2006
Trackout/Road Dust Reduction
50 attendees including industries, suppliers
and government staff
Particulate
Before
After
P. DeLuca, CSPA
Noise Barriers
Air quality improvement effects
Noise Barrier Effect
Highway Downwind
140
QEW
No Noise Barrier
120
100
80
Series1
Series2
60
Noise Barrier
Series3
Noise
Barrier
40
20
0
1
257
513
769
1025
1281
1537
1793
2049
2305
2561
NO - No Barrier
Away from QEW
39
0
5
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
NO Behind Barrier
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
39
5
0
0
Total Health Effects of Traffic
+
Mapping
McMaster Institute of Environment and Health
A Public Health Assessment ofMortality and Hospital Admissions
Attributable to Air Pollution in Hamilton
Prepared by:Talar Sahsuvaroglu, PhD and Michael Jerrett, PhD
School of Geography and Geology
May, 2003
Health Close-up
Centennial/Queensto
n
15% mortality
increase
SW Health Impacts– PM10 less than
500
NE – Aggregated Health Impact
Neighbourhood
Air Quality
Hamilton
Background
Other partners :
Conserver Society - community/source
identification
Green Venture - community coordination/support
Rotek Environmental Inc. - air
monitoring/logistics/ data analysis/support
Ministry of Environment – monitoring
equipment/vehicle
Hamilton Public Health – community
identification
Methodology:Measure individual pollutants
Calculate health impacts
Sum for total impact
Summary of Percent Changes in Acute
Mortality per 10 Units of Pollutant
Talar Sahsuvaroglu, PhD, Senes 2012
Air Pollutant
NT Mortality
(changes per 10 pollution
units)
Respiratory Hospital
Admissions
(changes per 10 pollution
units)
Cardiovascular Hospital
Admissions (changes per
10 pollution units)
PM2.5 (µg/m3)
0.77
-
0.8
PM10 (µg/m3)
0.45
2.1*
0.7
SO2 (ppb)
0.36
3.0
1.1*
NO2 (ppb)
0.68
4.9*
0.94
CO (ppm)
1.7
-
1.95*
O3 (ppb)
0.72
2.8*
0.2
Program:
•Neighbourhood meetings, including site choices
•Neighbourhood mobile air quality monitoring
•5 Neighbourhoods to be targeted
•Discussion/explanation of data
•Publication and reporting of findings to the
public.
Suggested Monitoring Targets
Mid Mountain (Fennel to Mohawk), Gourley (Garth,
Mohawk, West 5th, Stonechurch),Limeridge Mall
Rymal and Paradise, Meadowlands, Sanford School
(North End), Gage / Kenilworth....Mtn to Burlington St
Delta West, Eva Rothwell Centre (460 Wentworth North)
McAnulty Blvd / Grenfell St (North of Centre Mall off
Kenilworth, near St. Christopher) /Cope St
Beach Blvd / Van Wagner’s Beach / Riverdale East
(check QEW highway impacts), Sam Manson Park (Nash
and Kentley), Dundas (Pleasant, Littlejohn, Pleasant
Valley) /Westdale, Strathcona, Kirkendall, Durand, Jones
Rd / Arvin Ave (Stoney Creek)
Red Hill, Neighbourhood Associations, Proposed Big Box
Neighbourhoods Monitored
Dundas
Limeridge Mall
Near Mountain
Delta
Lawrence Ave to Burlington St
North West End
Eva Rothwell Centre
McAnulty Blvd
Beach Blvd/Eastport Dr
Jones Rd/Arvin Ave
3.00
Overall Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk by Pollutant
2.00
1.00
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
Which neighbourhoods
have above average
impacts?
14
12
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk
by Neighbourhood vs. Highway
10
8
6
Average
4
2
0
Highway
3.00
NW End vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk
Average
by Pollutant
2.50
NW End
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
3.00
NW End (no Burl) vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality
Risk by Pollutant
2.50
Average
2.00
NW End
NW End No Burl St
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
4.00
McAnulty vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk
by Pollutant
3.50
3.00
Average
2.50
McAnulty
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
5.00
Wentworth N. Eva Rothwell vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk by Pollutant
4.00
Average
3.00
Wentworth N Eva
Rothwell Centre
2.00
1.00
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
QEW
QEW
Stoney Creek
7.00
6.00
Jones Rd Arvin Ave vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk by Pollutant
Average
5.00
Jones Rd Arvin Ave
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
2.50
Beach Blvd. vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk by Pollutant
2.00
Average
Beach East Wind Lake
Beach SW Wind QEW
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
5.00
Eastport Dr. vs. Average,
Estimated % Increased Mortality Risk
by Pollutant
4.00
Average
Eastport Dr East Wind QEW
3.00
Eastport Dr SW Wind City Industry
2.00
1.00
0.00
PM2.5
PM10
SO2
CO
NO
NO2
Conclusions
Air pollutants impact all neighbourhoods
in Hamilton
Estimated mortality risk increases range
from 2.5 to 7.7 %
Particulate and Oxides of Nitrogen are
main causes
Highways, arterial roads are highest risk
12%
So what can we do?
Mobile Command Centre
Personal
(How do I avoid becoming a statistic
)
Get outside.... But... Stay in cleaner areas
Reduce personal exposure
Jog/walk/cycle in residential areas
Stay upwind of roads/intersections where possible
Put car ventilation system on recycle before you go on
the highway
Take the GO Train or least polluting options
Phone/email/write municipal, provincial, federal
decision makers to make air quality a priority
Municipal
Aggressive road cleaning
Enforce dust trackout/anti idling bylaws
Develop pedestrian/cycling/electric assist routes
Continue Green Fleet options for own and other fleets
Health Unit promote Air Quality Health Index and
outreach for behavioural change to reduce personal
exposures
Support AQHI local mapping
Enhance air monitoring (including mobile)
Support community air quality improvement initiatives
Lobby other levels of government to make air quality a
priority
Promote rational, science based decision making
Provincial
Upgrade air standards, add Nitric Oxide standard
Control emissions, industrial, automotive and trucks
Promote natural gas use, particularly for heavy trucks
Provide natural gas refuelling at all highway gas
stations and weigh scales
Prioritize all day GO Train service and Light Rail Transit
Continue aggressive Green Fleet options for own and
other fleets
Promote Air Quality Health Index and outreach for
behavioural change to reduce personal exposures
Support AQHI local mapping
Enhance air monitoring (including mobile)
Provincial
Support community air quality improvement initiatives
Lobby other levels of government to make air quality a
priority
Promote rational, science based decision making
Federal
Increment vehicle emission standards
Push towards natural gas fuelling of heavy trucks
Promote Air Quality Health Index and outreach for
behavioural change to reduce personal exposures
Support AQHI local mapping
Enhance air monitoring (including mobile)
Support community air quality improvement initiatives
Lobby other levels of government to make air quality a
priority
Promote rational, science based decision making
City Air Quality Trends
TSP
NO2
ROTEK
PM2.5
SO2
Air Quality Monitoring Specialists
Continuous Improvement
Community Involvement