Assessment of cumulative health impacts

What is an assessment of cumulative health impacts?

An assessment of cumulative health impacts estimates the health risks of exposure to multiple pollutants at one time. Usually, health risks associated with air pollution are estimated for one substance at a time.

For this study, an assessment of cumulative health impacts was conducted for each of the three types of substances included in the study:
Non-carcinogens: toxic substances with non-cancer effects Carcinogens: toxic substances that may cause cancer Criteria air pollutants: the smog-related pollutants

What does this study help us understand?

The study helps us understand: how much of the local health risk comes from pollution generated in Toronto versus pollution coming from other parts of Ontario and the United States how much of the local health risk comes from each sector, such as transportation, industry, and residential/commercial sectors how to set priorities and determine effective strategies to reduce exposure and improve the health of Toronto residents

Non-carcinogens: Health assessment

Cumulative impact
Non-carcinogens 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,3-Butadiene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Acetaldehyde Acrolein Benzene Cadmium Carbon Tetrachloride Chloroform Chloromethane Chromium (III) Chromium (IV) Dichloromethane Ethylene Dibromide Formaldehyde Lead Manganese Mercury Nickel Tetrachloroethylene Toluene Trichloroethylene
Hazard ratios less than one are not considered a health concern

Non-carcinogens are toxic substances that may be associated with non-cancer effects such as developmental, neurological or reproductive health outcomes.

Health Assessment
None of the 22 non-carcinogens included in the study is expected to be present in Wards 5 and 6 at levels that pose a health concern. Cumulative exposure from all the non-carcinogens together is below the level of concern. Although there is one easily identifiable source of non-carcinogens on this map, the levels of contamination in the middle of this area are still well below levels of concern for health. No adverse health effects would be expected from these emissions.

Carcinogens: Health assessment

Cumulative impact
Carcinogens above level of concern 1,3-Butadiene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Acetaldehyde Benzene Benzo[a]pyrene Chromium (VI) Formaldehyde Tetrachloroethylene Carcinogens below level of concern 1,2-Dichloroethane Cadmium Carbon tetrachloride Chloroform Chloromethane Dichloromethane Ethylene Dibromide Lead Nickel Trichloroethylene Vinyl Chloride
A risk of 0.000001 is equal to a risk in one in one million

Carcinogens are air pollutants that are associated with risk of cancer, even at low levels of exposure. The lifetime risk of developing cancer was calculated for each of the 19 carcinogenic substances included in the study.

Health Assessment
Eight carcinogens are present at levels of concern i.e. they are associated with a risk of developing cancer of one in a million or more in parts or all of the study area. A risk of one in a million means that one out of every million people exposed would be expected to develop cancer during their lifetime. Toronto Public Health encourages actions to reduce exposures when the risk is above one in one million. The calculated risk for one of these substances, benzo[a]pyrene, is uncertain and is under review. The average cancer risk in Wards 5 and 6 from all carcinogens, excluding benzo[a]pyrene, is 44 in one million. More than half of the 44 in one million risk comes from benzene. Benzene is released primarily from transportation sources.

Criteria Air Contaminants: Health assessment

Cumulative impact
Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs) Carbon monoxide Nitrogen oxides Ozone Particulate matter Sulphur oxides Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs) are pollutants that are associated mainly with higher risks of heart and lung diseases. These health effects may occur at any level of exposure.

Health Assessment
All five of the criteria air contaminants are present at levels of concern in Wards 5 and 6. Together, the CACs may increase the risk of premature mortality by 7.4 per cent. This risk is consistent with Toronto Public Healths estimate that air pollution is associated with about 1,700 premature deaths a year in Toronto. The pollutants that contribute the most to this risk are fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Transportation is a main source of both nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter.

A 0.1 excess per capita risk means a 10% increase in the risk of premature death above existing rates from heart or lung disease