Media Clipping — January 21, 2004, Global Television On-line Edition

Nova Scotians big air polluters, study says

DARTMOUTH, N.S. — Nova Scotia gives as good as it gets when it comes to air pollution, according to a new report.

The three-year study was released Wednesday by GPI Atlantic, a non-profit research foundation that's trying to develop a new measure for quality of life.

Previous studies have shown that Nova Scotia receives a lot of air pollution from Central Canada and the northeastern United States.

Recent smog levels show that's still happening, says GPI Atlantic senior researcher Anne Monette.

"Two of the highest levels of ozone in Canada occurred in Nova Scotia in 2001. The sites are relatively remote and there's no significant local sources."

But Monette says the study also shows that Nova Scotians are major air polluters.

"The Nova Scotia sulphur oxide emissions are double that of Canada and both Nova Scotia and Canada are higher than the United States and every other country who registered emissions for that year."

The main contributors to air pollution are vehicles and residential power users who rely on Nova Scotia's coal-burning power generators.

Costly emissions

GPI Atlantic says the damage to both human health and the environment from Nova Scotia's emissions cost $529 million.

"Sulphur oxides are a key contributor to acid rain so in that case the damage cost also reflect damages to lakes, rivers, declining fish populations and damage to forests," says Ron Colman, the head of the research institute.

Colman says Nova Scotians could make a big difference by conserving power and using more environmentally friendly methods of transportation.

He also wants the provincial government to do a better job of monitoring and reporting air pollution levels.

Copyright © 2004, CBC