Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project and Related

Statement

Lambton Public Health is appreciative of the work on the risk assessment for Sarnia and area led by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks since 2020, and the recommendations within the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project report. This report identifies certain chemicals that need further attention. For questions about the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project, please contact SAEHP@ontario.ca.

Efforts made by the province to further reduce emissions will also reduce exposures for all Lambton County residents, thus protecting their health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project?

In 2020, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks embarked on a risk assessment, working closely with provincial and federal government departments, health agencies, and First Nations to develop the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project. More information about the project is found here: About – Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project (SAEHP) | Clean Air Sarnia and Area – CASA

For questions about the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project, please contact SAEHP@ontario.ca

How was Lambton Public Health involved in the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project?

Lambton Public Health was a member of the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project’s Advisory Committee and the Government Air Exposure Review Panel (GAERP).

Prior to the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project, Lambton Public Health joined community partners of the Lambton Community Health Study Board to attempt a comprehensive health study examining health-related impacts due to proximity to petrochemical industry. However, there were prohibitive limitations and the study could not proceed further at that time. The Lambton Community Health Study Board’s final report to the community is found here: View Report.

What are the findings of the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project?

The Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project report summarizes details about emissions that would result in exposures to residents based on a risk assessment approach. The findings of the risk assessment point to the need for further controls to protect the health of residents. Some of these substances have known health effects including cancer. For questions about the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project, please contact SAEHP@ontario.ca.

Efforts made by the province to further reduce emissions will also reduce exposures for all Lambton County residents, thus protecting their health.

What is known about cancer rates in Lambton County?

Lambton Public Health has access to cancer incidence and mortality data through Ontario Health. Data are available for the public health unit geography which, for Lambton Public Health, encompasses Lambton County. Lambton Public Health cannot access cancer incidence data for smaller geographic areas (e.g., cities, neighbourhoods).

Lambton Public Health conducts regular health status reporting, with the most recent report regarding Lambton County cancer incidence and mortality presented in 2015 to the Lambton Community Health Study Board. These cancer incidence and mortality data were also identified in the 2016 Lambton Community Health Study Board’s report to the community.

More recent statistics on Lambton County cancer incidence and mortality in 2018, by public health unit area, can be found at Ontario Health’s Cancer Care Ontario, Chapter 8: Cancer Statistics by Public Health Unit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/node/51791

The following resources provide general information on cancer:

The Canadian Cancer Society has information about cancer risk factors: Reduce your risk | Canadian Cancer Society including information about outdoor air: Air Pollution | Canadian Cancer Society

Ontario Health’s Cancer Care Ontario has a tool for individuals to learn about cancer risk factors at: My CancerIQ | Learn Your Risk

What will Lambton Public Health do based on the Sarnia Area Environmental Health report findings?

Lambton Public Health is appreciative of the work led by Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks since 2020, and the recommendations within the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project report, which highlight certain emissions which need greater action to control. Action to limit exposures to these industry emissions known to be harmful to human health should be taken to protect the health of Lambton County residents. Lambton Public Health will continue to engage in discussions on emission reduction and health status reporting.

How are emissions from industry regulated?

Ontario regulates contaminants released to air by various sources, including local industrial and commercial facilities, to limit exposure to substances that can affect human health and the environment. Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and its regulations set out a series of tools that the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks can use to manage risk and address non-compliance. You can learn more about how the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks regulates air emissions, including links to key legislation and regulations, on their website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/rules-air-quality-and-pollution.

For information about the federal government’s role in outdoor air quality, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/airquality.html.

How do I see what air quality is like locally?

Clean Air Sarnia and Area (CASA) provides information and timely data from Sarnia’s air monitoring network, viewed at: https://reporting.cleanairsarniaandarea.com/. Lambton Public Health is a member of the CASA advisory panel, which is a partnership of industry, First Nations, government, and community members dedicated to improving the air monitoring network in the Sarnia air shed.

General information about ambient air quality is also provided at the Air Quality Ontario website, linking Environment Canada’s and Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Park’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI): https://www.airqualityontario.com/. The AQHI is a scale designed to help the public understand what the air quality around them means to their health and it is used across the province. Values range from low risk to very high risk and each connects to suggested steps to reduce exposure and risk. The AQHI provides real-time air quality measurements and forecasts.

Q&A on Public Health Impacts of Benzene Exposure

The following questions and answers have been prepared to provide supplementary information to the SAEHP.

Discussion of other exposure such as those for workers (e.g., occupational exposures) and accidental releases of concentrated benzene (e.g., chemical spills) are limited to providing context to community exposures.

The following organizations have reviewed and provided comments on an earlier draft of this document: Public Health Ontario, Health Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Lambton Public Health, and representatives from Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

View the Benzene Q&A