Ontario's Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks says the long-awaited Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project will focus on understanding exposures to air pollution.
Director Julie Schroeder told city council Monday that they'll be investigating the impact on ambient air, garden produce and medicinal plants.
"The idea is that we're linking an environmental exposure, to what are the potential health effects that could be associated with that exposure, and by doing so, we'll be able to answer the question, 'do exposures to chemicals in air pose a health risk?," said Schroeder. "Another question that we heard from Aamjiwnaang First Nation is related to the use of medicinal plants, as well as garden produce in this area. So, our project would also be investigating chemicals that might be present in the gardens and plants that may be used for medicinal purposes, to find out what the levels are and whether there's a risk to the use."
The impacts of living next door to industrial facilities, including odours, noise and vibrations, will also be characterized.
"This is not a health study in which we are looking for rates of disease in the community, or incidents of asthma, incidents of cancer," she said. "Because what happens when we do that is we get a good understanding about health outcomes in the community, but you can't necessarily link it back to an environmental exposure. So this way, we're starting with environment first and then drawing the line to what sort of risks of health effects could occur."
Schroeder said phase one of the three phase project is nearly complete, which has included preparing the scope of the project, gathering environmental data and screening chemicals.
She said they'll be looking to hire a third party this fall to carry out the environmental exposure assessment.
The ministry plans to hold community meetings this fall and next, and complete the project by the winter of 2021.
The ministry says the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project could cost up to $2 million.