Comment ID: 194964 …

Comment ID: 194964

According to the EPA, the cement industry is the 3rd highest polluter in North America. •According to Environment Canada, mercury (Hg) can be released into the air by cement kilns. In 2013, Ontario had the highest level of mercury emissions, representing 27% of total national emissions in Canada which came mainly from the iron and steel, cement and concrete industry. Mercury can be transported through the air and settle in the water or on the ground. It can be transformed by microorganisms into methylmercury, a toxic form of mercury that is harmful to both humans and wildlife. Methylmercury is bioaccumulate in the food chain and can enter our body by ingestion of contaminated food. Mercury accumulated in the vegetation can also be rejected again in the air during a forest fire. Mercury and its compounds are included in the list of toxic substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Environmental Protection (1999) (CEPA 1999). •According to the results of a study published in May 2001 by the Scientific Panel on toxicological risk assessment of the National Public Health Institute of Quebec (INSQ), toxic material from industrial sludges contained in the cement kiln dust may contain heavy metals, cadmium, arsenic and dioxins and furans. According to INSQ, hazards to human health are too high. These contaminate from 50 to 90% more than the dust, ash and other residues. •According to a recent article in the Toronto Star, “Ontario had the fourth-highest level of releases to air of carcinogens out of 60 state and provincial jurisdictions in Canada and the United States in 2012”. This shows that the people of Ontario are not adequately protected with the existing regulations and laws. •The health of a population can have very serious socio-economic impacts. We should take example of best practices in some other countries such as Germany that has amongst the most stringent emissions controls and regulations in the world. •The cement plant project proposal claims the use of “advanced” technology but would be subjected to regulations and emission guidelines that date back to 2003 and earlier. Therefore, emission limits and regulations need to be urgently updated. In addition, emissions should be monitored on a more frequent basis by the government to ensure compliance. •As per a recent study, the impacts of a cement plant having a chimney of close to 165 feet (50 meters) could affect the quality of air and agricultural soil in and around a 15 km radius. •The height of the planned cement plant chimney with its cooling tower being approximately of 410 feet (125 meters), the particulate matter being extremely light, the impact on the quality of air could easily surpass the mentioned area of 15km radius. •Colacem would burn petcoke instead of coal, to generate the extreme heat necessary to produce cement powder, creating a much larger amount of greenhouse gas. •In the province of Quebec, a new cement plant is being built in a remote area, Port-Daniel, right on the Atlantic sea front. They will be implementing the most advanced production technology; transportation of raw materials and finished products will be using ships. But even then, it was said in 2014 to be the most pollutant project in Quebec history. •Do the approving authorities consider the cumulative effects of the cement plant and those of the other industries in the vicinity? •How can cumulative effects of many industries be effectively monitored, and environmental and health protection efficiently provided, with multiple heavy industry sources, the cement plant adding its massive adverse effects to those of two other ones? •An Italian study confirmed this in 2011: “Results show an association between exposure to cement plant emissions and the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases: this association is particularly strong for children”. •A very recent study conducted in Spain concluded in 2015 that ‘’...excess cancer mortality was detected in the vicinity of these installations (heavy industries) as a whole and principally in the vicinity of cement installations”. •More than 1,300 heavy trucks, 16 hours per day, from 3:00am to 7:00pm as well as occasionally 24 hours per day, would bring an increased concentration of dust, diesel trucks pollutants emissions and noise, could be a source of stress for many road users and roadside property owners, increase the risk of severe road accidents. •Who will monitor the outputs of this cement plant? Who will ensure our environment and health protection? •As per a recent study, the impacts of a cement plant having a chimney of close to 50 meters could affect the quality of air and agricultural soil in and around a 15 km radius. The cement plant in L’Orignal would be 125 metres of height. •In addition, using petcoke instead of coal to generate the extreme heat necessary to produce cement powder, would create a much larger amount of greenhouse gases. •EPA says that cement plants could be responsible “… of visual impairments, respiratory cardiovascular diseases, damage to lung tissues, adverse effects on central nervous system, children and elderly more strongly affected.” •A study conducted in Spain concluded in 2015 that “…excess cancer mortality was detected in the vicinity of these installations (heavy industries) as a whole and principally in the vicinity of cement installations”. •Particulate matter PM2.5 is the most threatening. The particulates are so fine that they could penetrate the blood vessels through the lungs and seriously affect the health of human beings. •The height of the planned cement plant chimney with its cooling tower being approximately of 125 meters, the particulate matter being extremely light, the impact on the quality of air could easily surpass the mentioned area of 15km radius. Studies from Europe show that carbon particles go intercontinental taking the jet stream path, thus polluting beyond the source region. •Agriculture is the region's main industry. A farmer in the vicinity of the targeted site grows organic produce. The announcement of a cement plant possibly being built in the region lead to the rumor that he had already lost his organic certification. •The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture’s website mentions something about the impact of a cement plant on agriculture the government authorities should know: “Particulate matter such as cement dust deposited on vegetation can inhibit the normal respiration and photosynthesis mechanisms within the leaf. Cement dust may cause chlorosis and death of leaf tissue by the combination of a thick crust and alkaline toxicity produced in wet weather. The dust coating also may affect the normal action of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals applied as sprays to foliage. In addition, accumulation of alkaline dusts in the soil can increase soil pH to levels adverse to crop growth.” •Lower productivity of agricultural fields could have a direct impact on revenues from agriculture activity. Costs and required input in areas affected by a cement plant could be higher in comparison to control areas. This proposed project, if implemented, would increase Ontario’s CO2 gas emission and would put Ontario at a point of no return regarding the management of green gas reduction. The political and economical cost of this would be enormous for Ontario.