Background Information
Modern society is dependent on products such as
electronics, plastics and chemical pesticides. The complex manufacturing
processes involved require chemicals that are often highly toxic.
Industrialized cities like Sarnia, Ontario, must cope
with toxic chemical spills. As you will see there are many aspects to the
issue.
Over 150 million kilograms of toxic chemicals are
released by manufacturing facilities into Canada's environment each year,
including 7 million kilograms of carcinogens.
Are there any polluters in your community? What kind of
chemicals are they releasing, and which releases are of potential health
concern? Find out with PollutionWatch!
Managing Chemical Spills means knowing the
characteristics of a chemical. Look up the information in MSDS or
Materials Safety Data Sheets at MSDS-SEARCH
- The National MSDS Repository. Look in the DB or database section.
Informed citizens also need to know the law about toxic
chemicals. Find out more at Pollutant
Substances Regulations which covers the discharge of chemicals from
ships. There are many environmental laws and regulations in Canada. The Ontario
Regulatory Program Lists contain many pertinent laws and regulations.
The St. Clair Channel Keeper is a non-profit
organization dedicated to conserving, restoring and protecting the waters
of the Lake Huron-Lake Erie connecting channel, including the St. Clair
River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. Find out the latest
news on Toxic Chemical Spills.
Other Media Sources:
TV reports:
- WDIV Channel 4 Video of Canadian Spills
WDIV gets the local opinion on the spills, and reports on the Mocaomb
County Water Quality Board Meeting.
- WXYZ Channel 7 Video Article on Macomb County
Water Quality Meeting
WXYZ Reports on the Canadian spills, interviews Channel Keeper Board
members Doug Martz and Tor Hough.
Newspapers:
- Detroit News-Group asks for probe of chemical spill -
01-17-01
- Sarnia Observer - Nova Spill-128 people ill
