Several municipalities and other agencies in Ontario are exploring the practical implications of local air pollution hot spots and traffic corridors.  To learn more about who is working on local air quality problems, the ECO commissioned a small study in late 2009.  You can find the report here on ECO’s website.

Several large Ontario municipalities – including Ottawa, the Region of Halton, and Toronto – have been proactively assessing their local airsheds, and more are interested in getting started.  Municipalities have some very pragmatic reasons for examining local air quality: for example, neighbourhoods may be asking for help to cope with chronic road dust problems.  Planners may need air quality information to help set separation distances between new subdivisions and highways.  There may be emissions from industry causing conflicts between dischargers and nearby residents.  In all such situations, a local air quality assessment can help set the context for discussion and solutions.

We discussed this report in How’s the Air on Your Street? in our 2009/10 Annual Report.