Chimney Exhaust - Wood fireplaces - Release: CO, CO 2, NO x, SO 2 and smoke particles. Fig.1 Wood fireplace. Fig. Chimney Exhaust Fig.2 Pollutants being expelled from the chimney.

Small Engine Garden Equipment - Lawnmowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers - Inefficient emit high volumes of toxic pollutants - Release: CO, CO 2, VOC, NO x - Account 3% to 5% of Canada’s Air Pollution Fig.3 Exhaust from a gas lawnmower.

Barbeques - Charcoal/propane fueled BBQ - Charcoal produces more toxic pollutants - Release: SO 2, CO, PAHs Fig.4 Pollutants from a Charcoal BBQ.

Ground-level Ozone (O 3 ) - Detrimental effect on environment - Damages vegetation growth (lichens on trees) - Burns human lungs Fig.5 Healthy Lung (left). Damaged Lung (right) Fig.6 Leaf damage due to ground-level ozone.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC s ) Fig.7 Graph illustrating the VOC emissions in Ontario.

Smog - consists of ground-level ozone and particles - contains large amounts of SO 2 - chemically changes into acid rain - acid rain also damages vegetation growth Fig.8 Orange skies over Toronto. (IT IS NOT BEAUTIFUL)

CO 2 Emissions - 3 emitters release large amounts of CO 2 - increase of CO 2 in atmosphere is directly related to CO 2 emissions Fig.9 CO 2 concentrations of the atmosphere, in the last 1000 years.

*Health Risks* - affects body’s respiratory system - symptoms: coughing wheezing - easily affects people with asthma and allergies - TIPS: 1. Stay inside 2. Smog advisory 3. Take action to reduce emissions - use environmentally friendly house hold items

Controversy AdvantagesDisadvantages Electric Stoves- Less pollution- Useless in blackouts BBQs and wood fireplaces - Can be used any time- Releases harmful pollutants Electric lawn equipment - No emissions-Can get electrocuted -restrained to the length of the cord Gas lawn equipment -Mobile-releases a lot of pollution -2 stroke engines are very inefficient

Indicators - Parma Park had fewer sensitive species of lichens than Stan Wadlow - Parma Park (IAP) = Stan Wadlow Park (IAP) = (IAP) = Index of Atmospheric Purity Fig.10 Lichens on a tree trunk. Used as indicators of air quality.

Location of Parks Parma Park Stan Wadlow Park Fig.11 Region of the parks

Conducted Survey - Survey indicated that a lot more residents in Parma park region used the 3 emitters more than the residents of Stan Wadlow park Fig.12 Graph illustrating the survey results

Government/Agreements - Canadian Federal Government’s 10 year action plan is set to improve the CEPA - Emissions from these factors will decrease - Fuel quality will improve so fewer toxic pollutants are emitted - Canada- U.S. Air Quality Agreement (1996) - Controls transboundary pollution caused by SO 2 and NO x emissions - Share research and technology

Action Plan - Went door to door in the parks’ region to increase awareness of poor air quality and conducted a survey - Invitation of MP’s to Community Forum so we have a political impact - Creation of website so information can be accessed by general public

Final Recommendation

References Fig.2 Lane Region Air Pollution Authority LRAPA. 1 December Fig.3 Clean Air Foundation Clean Air Foundation. 1 December Fig.5 US Environmental Protection Agency EPA. 1 December Fig.7 Government of Ontario Government of Ontario. 1 December Fig.8 Discovery Channel Discovery Channel. 1 December Fig.9 Green Grass Cutters Green Grass Cutters. 1 December Fig.11 MapQuest MapQuest. 1 December University of Toledo College of Law University of Toledo. 3 December Home and Garden Television Home and Garden Television. 3 December Environment Canada Government of Canada. 28 November 2003.