Posted with permission from the hamilton Spectator.
The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 28, 2009)
A black dust storm that struck a part of the Hamilton Beach Strip produced pollution readings 19 times the provincial standard.
Data obtained by Environment Hamilton indicate the fine particulate pollution from the storm hit a level of 970 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Standards for a 24-hour concentration from the province and the World Health Organization are 50 micrograms per cubic metre.
The dust storm struck the central Beach Strip about suppertime Saturday, just before a heavy thunderstorm hit.
The measurement of PM10 particles (10 microns or one- tenth the diameter of a human hair) was made at a monitoring station on Beach Boulevard.
The Environment Ministry is investigating the industrial source of the dust. It has taken samples for lab analysis.
"It was like a sandstorm, but only black," said Jim Howlett, president of the Hamilton Beach Community Council. "It was absolutely visible. You couldn't miss it and a lot of people had just finished our annual Beach Community cleanup."
Last night, Howlett was still cleaning off the dust, which got into his kitchen and covered fruit in a bowl with a dusting of grey.
He and Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton, are calling for covering on stockpiles such as coal on U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal Dofasco docks.
The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 28, 2009)
A black dust storm that struck a part of the Hamilton Beach Strip produced pollution readings 19 times the provincial standard.
Data obtained by Environment Hamilton indicate the fine particulate pollution from the storm hit a level of 970 micrograms per cubic metre of air. Standards for a 24-hour concentration from the province and the World Health Organization are 50 micrograms per cubic metre.
The dust storm struck the central Beach Strip about suppertime Saturday, just before a heavy thunderstorm hit.
The measurement of PM10 particles (10 microns or one- tenth the diameter of a human hair) was made at a monitoring station on Beach Boulevard.
The Environment Ministry is investigating the industrial source of the dust. It has taken samples for lab analysis.
"It was like a sandstorm, but only black," said Jim Howlett, president of the Hamilton Beach Community Council. "It was absolutely visible. You couldn't miss it and a lot of people had just finished our annual Beach Community cleanup."
Last night, Howlett was still cleaning off the dust, which got into his kitchen and covered fruit in a bowl with a dusting of grey.
He and Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton, are calling for covering on stockpiles such as coal on U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal Dofasco docks.