Particulates (PM) are a…

Particulates (PM) are a notable emission from this plant that will add to the already too-high levels of particulates a major 2015 study found in the ambient air in this location.
Particulates are made up of soot containing chemicals, and are identified in the Environmental Compliance Agreement and the company’s supporting documents as having an effect on visibility, but not on health. This is contrary to both US and Canadian position on particulates. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website states: Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including: premature death in people with heart or lung disease. Non fatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing. People with heart or lung diseases, children, and older adults are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure.
Seven chemical companies in the area of Coronation Drive also report emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 (ChemTRAC 2019). The Disco bio-gas plant in Toronto handles 75.000 metric tons of waste per year, and reported 6.2 tonnes of total PM to the NPRI. The proposed Coronation Drive plant will be processing 452,600 tons of waste per year, six times the Disco source material, so we can expect an average of 37 tonnes of particulates will be released from this plant, into air, dust, and snow.
The Highland Creek Treatment Plant Environmental Assessment included a Human Health Risk Assessment (Intrinsik HHRA 2015, p.82) that reported that two chemicals - particulates and hexavalent chromium, exceeded the reference benchmarks for 24 hour exposure in this area (p.82). The excessive exposure to particulates from current ambient air, plus the additional 21% of the ministry limit contribution, or 37 tonnes expected from the bio-gas plant must be seriously considered for health safety to local residents in any decision regarding this proposal.
The HHRA assessments for particulates and other chemicals, used toxicity reference values (TRVs) for non-carcinogenic inhalation chemicals of concern (COCs), noting that the current limits for NOx and SO2 are not specifically health-risk based. Because of their effects on respiratory health, levels of these emissions should be monitored in stack and ambient air regularly. Pulmonary disease is an effect of TRS /H2S, and particulates.
A study re early life (prenatal to age seven) exposure to PM2.5 found these small particles were also detrimentally associated with fundamental cognitive abilities including working memory and executive function., with significant effects on working memory . The ECA did not consider human health effects per se, the Ontario Bill of Rights includes protection of both health and the environment. Thousands of residents living in the air shed of this industrial park are requesting a science-based Health Impact Assessment (HIA) that will take into account all the detrimental impacts and effects on the community, e.g. noise, odours, and increasing exposures to air toxics, prior to any decision on this applicatio