Benzene

Any level of benzene exposure can cause adverse health effects — and in 2023, Health Canada examined the problem of gas stations and concluded gas station benzene emissions can be harmful to people living up to 300 metres away.

Ineos Styrolution, the plastics plant mired in controversy since high levels of benzene pollution were reported there earlier this year, is citing economic realities in its announcement that it will shut its Sarnia operations, which employ approximately 80 workers and numerous contractors.

The Ford government has created new benzene regulations for a specific Sarnia, Ont., plastics plant currently under suspension for emitting high levels of the toxin. They set an emissions cap ten times higher than the provincial standard.

The province has issued four orders to Ineos Styrolution since 2019, recently temporarily shut down the facility and added new conditions to its licence that it must meet before it restarts operations, but the government says benzene levels remain elevated.

The owners of a Sarnia, Ont., plastics plant that has been emitting dangerous levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene for years say they need more time to comply with tougher federal rules.

Provincial governments allow companies to pollute our air and water. The feds are moving to change that, but not fast enough.

As residents in Ontario's Chemical Valley grapple with dangerously high levels of benzene, air monitoring data also reveals very high levels of sulphur dioxide that environmental advocates urge must be brought under control.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s emergency interim directive ordering the petrochemical industry in southern Ontario to clean up its act has been extended for two years.

Patty Hajdu says the First Nations Clean Water Act will be “another tool” for nations to curb environmental racism and protect their waters — but that Conservative actions in the House have only obstructed its progress.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has issued an emergency interim order to the petrochemical industry in southern Ontario, home of Canada’s Chemical Valley, following consultations with the local First Nation about declining air quality.

Ontario's Ministry of the Environment has ordered a petrochemical facility in Sarnia to suspend its production operations after high benzene emissions, first flagged by a neighbouring First Nation.

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