Canada asks chemical plants to check pollution after leaks hit Indigenous community

Styrenix Performance Materials

17/05/2024 22:07

By Saadeq Ahmed
       TORONTO, May 17 (Reuters) - Canada on Friday ordered
some petrochemical plants in Ontario to take strict measures to
control pollution from cancer-causing chemical benzene after
release from a facility forced a First Nation community to
declare a state of emergency.
    Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven
Guilbeault issued the order to the petrochemical industry in
Sarnia, Ontario, a city less than 300 km (186 miles) west of
Toronto.
    Last month, Aamjiwnaang First Nation declared a state of
emergency due to a chemical release from German company INEOS
Styrolution's  STYE.NS  plastic manufacturing plant, which
resulted in at least 10 people visiting the hospital.
    The order will require some petrochemical production
facilities to implement vapor-control measures, specifically,
those that have fenceline concentrations of benzene above 29
micrograms per cubic metre in any of the two-week sampling
periods ranging from March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024.
    "It is simply unacceptable that the people of Aamjiwnaang
First Nation and Sarnia face ongoing issues with poor air
quality," Guilbeault said in a statement.
    "Indigenous peoples have a right to a healthy environment
and too often are impacted by polluting industries."
    Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which has 1,000 residents, is
surrounded by industrial facilities. The Frankfurt-based
company, a unit of privately owned INEOS Group  INEOSE.UL  had
shut down its facility on April 20.
    The First Nation community said that the order will add to
the protection of the air quality in Aamjiwnaang.    
    According to University of Toronto research, around 40% of
Canada's petrochemical plants are located in the Sarnia area,
known as "Chemical Valley."

 (Reporting by Saadeq Ahmend; 
Editing by Sandra Maler)
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