On August 31, 2007, the Ministry of the Environment published Amendments to the Air Pollution Local Air Quality Regulation and provided for 19 new or updated standards for fourteen air toxins. This is the first significant change to air quality standards for a number of key pollutants in 25 years. In addition to creating more stringent standards for already-regulated pollutants, the Regulation adds chloroethane, propylene as well as several trimethylbenzene (TMB) isomers to the list of regulated pollutants.
The standards are to be phased in by 2013 with the exception of toluene which will be phased in by 2010. Standards were delayed for toluene based on submissions regarding its contribution to smog and how to manage it through implementation of a standard. New standards are based on health effects and odour. The regulatory amendments include an update of regional meteorological data and regulatory air dispersion models as well as updates to opacity requirements.
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