2024

In 2024, a study was published that discussed the effects of industrialization on the composition and sources of particulate matter (PM) affecting air quality in Hamilton.  Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was sampled from 2013 to 2019. In comparison to a rural town (Simcoe, Ontario), the average ambient PM2.5 concentration was approximately 36% higher, which further illustrates the impacts of Hamilton’s steel industry. Unique factors that contributed to the PM2.5 concentrations in Hamilton included coking and steelmaking which contributed approximately 15% to the PM2.5 mass concentrations (Figure 1). For many years, PM2.5 pollution has been correlated with a variety of illnesses including respiratory infections, lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, cardiopulmonary disorders, and diabetes.     The toxicity of PM2.5 has been reported to be especially dangerous, even at low concentrations, given the particles are very small and can reach deep inside the lungs and diffuse into the bloodstream.        This toxicity further facilitates chemical and physical damage to the body.

 

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Figure 1: Pie chart demonstrating the distribution of the different factors contributing to the average annual PM2.5 mass concentrations in Downtown Hamilton that were measured in the most recent year (2016) of the study conducted by Yassine, et., 2024. The Hamilton Average listed in the bottom right corner represents the total annual PM2.5 mass concentrations in Downtown Hamilton of that year. (Adapted from   )

 

In the study conducted by Yassine, et. al, 2024, they noted a statistically significant decline in PM contributions for coking (-4.1% per year) and for pSO4 (-12.6% per year), however, no decline was noted for steelmaking. Overall, throughout the study period, there was a decline in total PM2.5 of -4.24% per year. The study also analyzed how spatial factors influenced the sources and composition of PM that affect air quality. In Hamilton, associations were made between the proximity of the industrial sector and the PM2.5 concentrations (Figure 2), further emphasizing the importance of continual efforts to improve air quality to minimize health and environmental ramifications.

 

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Figure 2: Conditional bivariate probability function plots of the 3 key factors relating to industrialization (steelingmaking, coking, and particulate sulphate) that were identified within the study by Yassine, et. al, 2024 overlaid over a terrain map of Downtown Hamilton. The small blue circles represent the location of emission stacks in the industrial sector. The figure visually depicts the distribution and sources of concentrations of PM2.5 within Hamilton, due to factors such as wind speed, with the dark red colour representing the locations with the highest concentrations. (Adapted from  )

 

Many of the main goals and responsibilities included in the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) 2024-2025 Departmental plan aligned to continue to address the primary environmental and health concerns in Hamilton.  This included air quality, community sustainability, enforcement regarding pollution, and aquatic ecosystem health. In the report, ECCC highlighted the priority to restore ecosystem health in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern and enhance economic development for the Hamilton community. In particular, they recognized that a crucial step to restoring the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern is to continue addressing the pollution in Randle Reef, located in the southwest corner of the Hamilton Harbour.     Randle Reef contained about 695,000 cubic meters of sediment with a high concentration of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals. This is enough sediment to fill approximately 250 olympic sized swimming pools. Randle Reef was deemed the most contaminated site of all the Canadian Areas of Concern on the Great Lakes.    These PAH are carcinogenic toxins and both an environmental and health concern.   The ECCC committed to collaborating with local stakeholders, and federal, provincial, regional, and municipal governments to ensure progress is made.   The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, released a statement emphasizing the importance of this collaboration:

 

 

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Select remediation projects are currently underway to address the pollution of the Hamilton Harbour. The Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project is a crucial project, with a budget of approximately 138.9 million Canadian dollars, tasked with managing the contaminated sediment at Randle Reef. 

This remediation effort comprises of many phases and the involvement and funding from several public and private organizations and companies including the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Hamilton, Halton Region, the City of Burlington, Hamilton–Oshawa Port Authority, and Stelco.   As of 2024, the project is in the middle of the third and final stage and is expected to finish by 2025.    This final stage involves capping the contaminated sediment in the engineered containment facility using a variety of materials including aggregates and asphalt.    Many members of the government were expressive of the importance of the progression of this project, including Gary Carr, the Halton Regional Chair who stated:

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