Backgrounder: Strengthening Protection for Ontario's Air
February 1, 2010 1:35 PM
Ontario has updated air standards for 33 high priority contaminants of concern to human health. They are taking effect February 1, 2010. These air quality standards are based on the best available science about the health and environmental risks posed by these contaminants.
To promote effective implementation and reduce regulatory burden, Ontario amended Regulation 419 to establish sector-specific technical standards in December after consulting with industry and the environmental community. To qualify for a technical standard, facilities must strive to maximize emission reductions.
|
Contaminant |
Previous Standard (24 hr average unless otherwise indicated) |
New Air Standard (24 hr average unless otherwise indicated) |
Health Effect (Critical effects used for setting the standard) |
|
Acetone |
48,000 µg/m3 |
11,880 µg/m3 |
Acute respiratory irritation, narcotic and neurological effects |
|
Acetonitrile |
No Standard |
70 µg/m3 |
Respiratory irritation |
|
Acrolein |
23.5 µg/m3 (1 hr avg.) |
0.4 µg/m3; 4.5 µg/m3(1 hr avg.) |
- Lesions in the upper airways (for 24 hr avg.) - Eye, mucous membrane and respiratory irritation; asthma exacerbation (for 1 hr avg.) |
|
Acrylonitrile |
0.6 µg/m3 |
0.6 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Carcinogenic effects |
|
Ammonia |
100 µg/m3 |
100 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Eye, lung and skin irritation |
|
Chlorine |
10 µg/m3 |
10 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Lung functions and respiratory irritation |
|
Chloroform |
1 µg/m3 |
1 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Carcinogenic effects |
|
Cyclohexane |
100,000 µg/m3 |
6,100 µg/m3 |
Developmental effects |
|
Ethyl benzene |
1,000 µg/m3 |
1,000 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Developmental effects |
|
Ethyl ether |
8,000 µg/m3 |
8,000 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Eye and nasal irritation |
|
HDI Biuret |
1 µg/m3 |
3 µg/m3 |
Nose lesions and degeneration of the olfactory epithelium |
|
HDI Isocyanurate |
No Standard |
3 µg/m3 |
Nose lesions and degeneration of the olfactory epithelium |
|
HDI Polyisocyanate |
No Standard |
3 µg/m3 |
Nose lesions and degeneration of the olfactory epithelium |
|
HDI monomer |
0.5 µg/m3 |
0.03 µg/m3 |
Nose lesions and degeneration of the olfactory epithelium |
|
n-Hexane (n-hexane and hexane isomers only) |
12,000 µg/m3 |
7,500 µg/m3 |
Neurotoxic effects |
|
n-Hexane (part of a mixture) |
12,000 µg/m3 |
2,500 µg/m3 |
Neurotoxic effects |
|
Hydrogen chloride |
20 µg/m3 |
20 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Irritation and injury to the respiratory tract |
|
Hydrogen cyanide |
575 µg/m3 |
8 µg/m3 |
Central nervous system and thyroid effect |
|
Isopropanol |
24,000 µg/m3 |
7,300 µg/m3 |
Adverse effects on the kidney |
|
Lead |
2 µg/m3 0.7 µg/m3 (30 day avg) |
0.5 µg/m3 0.2 µg/m3 (30 day avg) |
Adverse neurological effects in young children which can affect their physical, intellectual, and behavioural development |
|
MDI Monomer |
1 µg/m3 |
0.7 µg/m3 |
Pathological changes in nose tissue |
|
Methylethyl ketone |
1,000 µg/m3 |
1,000 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Developmental effects |
|
Methyl isocyanate |
No Standard |
1 µg/m3 |
Respiratory tract lesions |
|
Methylene chloride |
220 µg/m3 |
220 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Carcinogenic effects |
|
Mineral spirits |
2,600 µg/m3 |
2,600 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Neurotoxic effects |
|
Perchloroethylene |
360 µg/m3 |
360 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Respiratory and kidney effects |
|
Phenol |
100 µg/m3 |
30 µg/m3 |
Central nervous system and liver effects |
|
Polymeric MDI |
No Standard |
0.7 µg/m3 |
Pathological changes in nose tissue |
|
Propylene oxide |
1.5 µg/m3 |
1.5 µg/m3 (Note1) |
Carcinogenic effects |
|
TDI (2,4-) |
0.5 µg/m3 |
0.2 µg/m3 |
Lung function decline |
|
TDI (mixed isomers) |
No Standard |
0.2 µg/m3 |
Lung function decline |
|
Trichloroethylene |
115 µg/m3 |
12 µg/m3 |
Carcinogenic effects |
|
Xylenes |
2,300 µg/m3 |
730 µg/m3 |
Neurological effects |
Note 1: For these 12 substances, the ½ hr standards, which are still used by many small sources, was reduced by several fold, ranging up to 100-fold.
CONTACTS
- Contact information for the general public
416-325-4000
1-800-565-4923
- Kate Jordan
Communications Branch
416-314-6666
kate.jordan@ontario.ca
- John Karapita
Minister's Office
416-314-6736
john.karapita@ontario.ca
ontario.ca/environment
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