Local air pollution from small sources like autobody shops
and corner laundries cause the deaths of at least 120 city
residents each year, according to the Toronto Star citing a Toronto
Public Health study called ChemTRAC.
ChemTRAC is a program implemented by the City of Toronto under
its Environmental Reporting, Disclosure and Innovation Program,
which includes the Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw (Municipal Code Chapter 423). It has three
elements: (1) it requires businesses to report on their use and
release of 25 priority substances if they meet certain thresholds;
(2) the analysis and release of that chemical data to the public
(see the ChemTRAC interactive
map with neighbourhood data); and (3) supports for businesses
to reduce their use and release of priority substances. The
substances tracked include solvents, metals and combustion
by-products that can cause short and long-term health effects.
