Health Canada has launched a major air quality study in Sault Ste. Marie.
For six years, MP Tony Martin has been meeting with residents in the city's west end who have complained about emissions from nearby Essar Steel Algoma.
The $900,000 study will involve local researchers, health professionals and students from Algoma University to collect air quality data and study its impact on human health, specifically respiratory and vascular systems.
In a May 3 statement, Martin hailed the announcement and paid tribute to the community pressure by residents in the Bayview area of the city who flooded the federal Environmental Commissioner with submissions on Essar's Certificate of Approval.
The company has responded by installing baghouses in 2009 to control emissions and has held community information meetings.
Algoma University's NORDIK Institute will be working with Health Canada to collect air quality data at two sites in the city.
This study is believed to be the third of its type in a Canadian urban setting. Lead investigator Dr. Robert Dales, a former Sault resident, will be involved in the data collection, analysis and final interpretation.
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