Rating: NNNNN
BEACH BAROMETER
Total number of beaches in Toronto: 14
Total number of tests for E. coli conducted by public health each day: 5
Number of beaches that have been closed at least one day this summer: all 14
Beach with the highest number of unsafe days: Bluffers Park (declared unsafe 90 per cent of the time)
Level of E. coli considered safe under provincial guidelines: fewer than 100 E. coli bacteria per 100 ml of water
Number of strains of E. coli: dozens
Number of specific strains tested for by the city: none (the city takes a general E. coli reading)
Number of chemicals identified in the environment or in organisms in Lake Ontario: more than 1,000
WATERY WASTELAND
Percentage of Lake Ontario fish with cancers, thyroid or reproductive problems: about 40
Number of organochlorine contaminants found in one study of herring gull eggs: 54
Amount of contaminated sediment from runoff entering Lake Ontario each year: in excess of 11 million tonnes
Number of years it would take to flush Lake Ontario of pollutants: more than 600
WHAT CLEAN WATER ADVOCATES SAY
On whether they’d take a swim:
“Certainly. I have done on occasion before. But I usually wear earplugs to avoid infection.” City councillor Jack Layton
On possible adverse health effects:
“I would certainly wonder about long-term dermal exposure.” Rick Findlay of Pollution Probe
“I think we’re being overconfident to think that as long as we’re monitoring E. coli all is well.” Rich Whate of the Toronto Environmental Alliance
On why the city only tests for E. coli:
“I’m only going by what the province’s beach management protocol requires us to do. We put up warning signs and people swim anyway.”
Peter Gauthier, healthy environment coordinator, public health department
POLLUTANTS WASHED INTO THE LAKE AFTER A RAINSTORM:
· Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (particles that fall to the ground from smokestacks)
· Metals (including zinc, lead, copper, nickel, chromium, cobalt, mercury)
· Petroleum hydrocarbons (from vehicle exhaust, brake and tire wear, fuel and engine oil leaks)
· Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers (from lawn-care products)
· Bacteria (from sewer system)
· PCBs, chlorinated benzenes and arsenic
· Fecal material (from wildlife and domestic animals)
WHAT’S DISCHARGED DIRECTLY INTO THE LAKE:
· Recognized and suspected carcinogens (benzene, arsenic, mercury)
· Respiratory toxins (ammonia, methanol, cyanide compounds)
· Gastrointestinal and liver toxins (formaldehyde, vinyl chloride)
· Skin and sense organ toxins (chlorine, hydrochloric acid, methyl ethyl)
· Cardiovascular and blood toxins (toluene)
· Developmental toxins (methanol, phenols, cadmium compounds, ethylene glycol, phosphorous, hydroflouric acid)
· Immunotoxicants (zinc, nickel, cobalt compounds)
· Total toxins released directly into Lake Ontario in 1999: 11,889,387 kilograms (not including airborne toxins)
· Total toxins released in 94: 4,442,435 kilograms
Sources: National Pollution Release Inventory City of Toronto, public health department Pollution Probe Toronto Environmental Alliance Environment Canada Ontario Ministry of the Environment
