Kimberly Malega has been facing a persistent issue with dust and air pollution infiltrating her home since she moved to the outskirts of Sandwich Town. Despite regular cleaning, she finds it challenging to keep her home free from these pollutants. Malega highlighted her concerns, stating that the air quality in the area is laden with pollution, prompting her to avoid going outdoors on certain days.
The vicinity near the Detroit River is dotted with various industries, including gravel and building material plants, as well as asphalt mixing plants. Experts studying air quality noted that although the air pollutants are within safe levels and do not trigger immediate action, they still affect the air quality in the region, noticeable to residents like Malega.
Malega described the thick layer of black, soot-like dust on her window panes and expressed her desire for measures to address dust and air pollution, citing potential health hazards, especially for children playing in dusty environments. Similarly, Abdul Ahad, residing across from a building material plant at the entrance of Sandwich Town, shared Malega’s concerns about escalating dust pollution due to industrial activities in the area.
A review of last year’s pollutant data from air monitoring stations in Sandwich revealed slightly worse air quality compared to downtown, with pollutants like fine particulate matter 2.5, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxides, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, and sulphur dioxides present. Jeff Brook, an associate professor specializing in public health, emphasized the need for stricter regulations on dust particles, asserting that the absence of a national standard for dust in Canada poses risks to public health.
Brook emphasized the necessity for further research to differentiate industrial emissions in Sandwich from those in Detroit, noting the potential health impacts of pollutants originating from the petrochemical refinery in Detroit. He highlighted the harmful nature of petroleum coke piles and the need for industry compliance with regulations to minimize pollution effects on residents.
Experts highlighted the significance of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in potentially dispersing air pollutants to new areas and reducing truck traffic in Sandwich. Bill Van Heyst, an air quality expert, underscored the impact of industries across the Detroit River on Sandwich’s air quality, particularly citing sulphur dioxide emissions originating from the Zug Island Coke factory.
Van Heyst acknowledged the challenges faced by Sandwich due to its proximity to both local and Detroit industries, with pollutants remaining below actionable thresholds. Looking ahead, he anticipated that the new bridge could mitigate pollution by reducing truck idling and subsequent pollutant emissions in the area.
