Policy Analysis Tools for Air Quality and Health
A workshop hosted by NERAM and Pollution Probe

May 19, 2005
8:30 AM-5:00 PM

Toronto Metro Hall
55 John St., Toronto, ON

 

 

Workshop Schedule (pdf)
Purpose and Goals
Description
Presentations

Workshop Final Report - May 19th 2005

To see a list of Registered Participants, Click Here


Background:
"Rome Statement";"Mexico Framework"; "Mexico Statement"; Mexico Statement Appendix"; "Provincial Health Officer's Annual Report 2003";"The illness Cost of Air Pollution";"Ontario Ministry Programs and Initiatives Publications";"Curbing Transboundary Air Pollution";"FAQs on the Health Effects of Air Pollution";"The Corporate Smog Action Plan";"The Smog Primer"



New Proposal for a second Workshop to Demonstrate Existing Models to Evaluate Air Quality Interventions by Municipalities

Click Here for PDF file of Proposal

SPONSORS:









Purpose and Goals

It is now universally recognized that poor air quality has adverse impacts on human health, and research confirms that residents in some areas of Canada are exposed to levels of air pollutants associated with morbidity and mortality. However, the total impact of current levels and trends of air pollution alongside current policies and those slated to be implemented in the near future is not well known.

The primary purpose of this workshop is to facilitate communication between policymakers, scientists, modelers, and other stakeholders to identify critical policy needs, key issues, and gaps in knowledge for policy analysis. Broadly, the workshops will be driven by three main themes/questions:

  1. What is the health significance of air pollution?
  2. Are there available models and analysis adequate to inform policy at some level?
  3. What are the key policy questions that should be addressed by models?
Description
  1. presentations by experts who will provide an update on current knowledge of air pollution levels and related health effects from national and local perspectives
  2. presentations of specific examples by experienced modelers who have tackled the problems of estimating health impacts of air pollution and policies which affect air quality, and predicting the potential impacts of future policies
  3. An exploration from various stakeholder perspectives of what the critical policy needs and questions are, including identification of important questions which may not yet have been addressed by the modeling community
  4. Formal interaction between stakeholders via breakout discussion sessions with a report and final plenary discussion
  5. Posters and display tables available for perusal

A scoping document, which will be sent to all participants, will be produced from the workshop. If stakeholder agree, this workshop may lead to a second, broader workshop to take place in Autumn 2005. In this case, the scoping document will provide a foundation for planning this next workshop.

Presentations

Workshop objectives:
Health Impacts? Analysis Capacity?, and Policy Issues?

John Shortreed - Executive Director, NERAM

Quentin Chiotti - Air Programme Director, Pollution Probe

The Basics – Air Pollution levels and Health Effects
Chair: Louise Aubin (Peel Region Health)

Steve Clarkson - Director, Environmental Contaminants Bureau, Health Canada - National Perspective
Peggy Farnsworth - Director, Transboundary Air Issues, Environment Canada - National Perspective
Monica Campbell - Toronto Public Health - Local Perspective, Toronto and Region
Murrary Finkelstein - McMaster Institute of Environmental and Health - Measuring the Health Impacts in Toronto and Hamilton
Jay Barclay - (Senior Policy Advisor, Environment Canada), Quentin Chiotti, John Shortreed, and Stephanie Gower (University of Waterloo) - A framework for the Workshop: Approaching the 3 Questions


Analysis Examples and Issues - Health Impacts? Analysis Capacity?, and Policy Issues?
Chair: Eva Ligeti (Clean Air Partnership)

Anton Davies - RWDI - GTA Initiative/Large Urban Areas
Jesse Thé - Lakes Environmental - Minnesota Analysis
Jeff Brook - Environment Canada - Source Apportionment
Dave Stieb - Air Health Effects Division, Health Canada - AQBAT
Phil Blagden - Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada - AQI

Policy Perspectives - What are the Analysis needs?
Chair: Kim Perrotta (OPHA)

Stakeholders - statements of analysis issues related to stakeholder policy perspectives

Posters

Dr. Anthony Ciccone, Ciara De Jong, Jean Yves Urbain, Golder Associates Angela Li-Muller, Toronto Public Health, Mark Rupke, WES, Diane Michelangeli, York University, Air Emissions from Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant

Michael Donohue - Environmental Economics, Environment Canada - Environmental Benefits of Improved Air Quality (français version-pdf)


Dr. Rakesh Singh - Waterloo Cenre for Atmospheric Sciences, University of Waterloo - MicroFac - A New Microscale Motor Vehicle Emission Model: Determination of Neighbourhood Air Pollution for Human Exposure Assessment

Stephanie Gower, Stephen McColl, John Hicks, John Shortreed, Lorraine Craig - University of Waterloo - Development of a Health Effects-based Priority Ranking System for Air Emissions Reductions from Oil Refineries in Canada












   
   
   
   
   
   
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Last Updated: June 27, 2006
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