"What have we been exposed to over the years?"

December 17, 2009

Eric McGuinness

The Hamilton Spectator

Controversy is raging over Environment Ministry data showing the emission rate for cancer-causing benzene from ArcelorMittal Dofasco's Hamilton coke ovens is twice as high as the worst U.S. coke producer in 2007.

The same data shows Dofasco emitting benzene next year at a rate still 50 per cent higher per tonne of coke than the U.S. plant did two years ago. Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton, calls the revelations startling and worrisome.

But Dofasco says the ministry is wrong, insisting its emission rate is not double the ArcelorMittal plant in Ohio cited by the ministry as the worst of 20 looked at in the U.S.

Andrew Sloan, Dofasco's general manager of public affairs, said late yesterday: "We can say with some certainty that we are not two times as high. Bottom line, there is no basis for confidence in the ministry's graph."

He also said benzene emissions last year were 40 per cent less than in 2007 and will be reduced further under the company's $16-million Blue Skies Air Quality Action Plan announced in September.

However, Lukasik said: "The company is always talking about how much it has done to reduce benzene. Cripes, if it's that bad now, what have we been exposed to over the years?"

The benzene graph at issue was presented last Friday to a community stakeholders' meeting on the company's application for what are called alternate standards -- in effect a grace period before it must meet tougher, health-based air-emission standards coming into effect next year.

Participants learned the ministry gave the company a draft decision last Thursday. Details of the decision won't be made public until early in the new year, after the company has had time to respond.
Sloan said yesterday: "We recognize there is a need to get the levels down and think we have a plan to do it. That we're committed to spending $16 million in a year we haven't made any money underlines our commitment."

Benzene is one of a number of substances being addressed in Dofasco's action plan and in the alternate-standards process. Ontario hasn't yet set a benzene standard, but is telling Dofasco to aim for a level the province proposes to adopt.

The graph shows Dofasco emitting 800 grams of benzene per tonne of coke in 2007, a rate that will drop to 600 grams next year. The Ohio plant emitted 400 g in 2007. Dofasco's 2013 target is shown somewhere between 150 and 200 g.

Burdon said there could be inconsistencies in how emissions were estimated at various plants. He also said Dofasco's rate may be higher because it captures coke gas to burn for fuel, and the process used to remove sulphur from the gas releases a significant amount of benzene.

While Lukasik is upset by the current benzene levels, she is more concerned about benzo-a-pyrene (BaP), a more potent carcinogen that would be reduced only 27 per cent in Dofasco's plan.

A ministry graphic shows that BaP emissions now exceed a proposed upper-risk health threshold 11 per cent of the time. After the action plan, they would still exceed the proposed threshold 6 per cent of the time.

Lukasik says the ministry needs to clamp down more on both benzene and BaP.
"For decades, we've been dealing with far, far worse levels, so it's more urgent now that they be made to meet the new standards."

She's pleased benzene emissions will drop sharply by 2013, but says: "We're feeling a lot of frustration with other parameters. BaP, for instance, is a much more powerful carcinogen and the company is committed to only a 27 per cent reduction over the life of the plan."

emcguinness@thespec.com
905-526-4650