Hamilton air quality is improving, but it's still worse than downtown Toronto: report

craftbeerdad · #1 Posted **Jan 12, 2022, 4:31 PM**

Came across this today and thought our group would find this interesting.

Quote:

Air quality in Hamilton is improving, but is still worse than downtown Toronto and nearby municipalities, according to a new city report.

The report, presented to the board of health on Monday, showed a "significant reduction city-wide" in air pollutants between 1996 and the end of 2020.

View the report

SteelTown · #2 Posted **Jan 12, 2022, 6:40 PM**

Yeah, we can tell. It doesn't stink as bad, haha.

Back when Stelco was pumping full steam ahead, it was nasty. Every time I drive up the 403 along the Ancaster hill, I can smell that strong Sulfur smell. Not anymore, though.

TheRitsman · #3 Posted **Jan 12, 2022, 7:11 PM**

I noticed that in the 3 years I've lived here the sulfur smell downtown has occurred much less frequently.

craftbeerdad · #4 Posted **Jan 12, 2022, 8:23 PM**

While things have improved, obviously room for improvement based on those findings.

Thankfully the city is working with UofT on a project across different wards to track pollutants.

https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/defaul...-dec142021.pdf

ScreamingViking · #5 Posted **Jan 12, 2022, 8:58 PM**

Interesting about the particulates from the Ohio Valley, noted in the CBC story
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...2020-1.6310845

The escarpment doesn't help the issue, tending to "trap" the bad air downtown.

The aroma of the Bunge plant is also pretty common in the core. I think I prefer the sulphurous scents to it.

Once Dofasco makes the switch to gas, and eventually hydrogen, things will really change.