ChemTRAC
ChemTRAC - Toronto's Community Right-to-Know program
UPDATE: Phase 2 toxics data is now online at toronto.ca/chemtrac
TEA will be attending the Toronto Board of Health meeting on Friday June
14th 2013 to show support for this groundbreaking program. We will also be promoting the Toronto Toxic Reduction Tool Kit at this public meeting. Read more about the new data on where toxics are released in Toronto below.
Toronto Public Health's ChemTRAC program provides data for the public about where toxic substances are used, in what quantities and who reported using them. Until now, this information was not collected by the government, and not available to the public.
Find out how you can use ChemTRAC data to prevent pollution!
The ChemTRAC program has released Phase 2 data on the use and release of 25 priority toxic substances across Toronto. The data is available online at toronto.ca/chemtrac.
In addition to Phase 1 businesses we now have chemical data for Phase 2 businesses such as dry cleaners, laboratories, autobody shops, funeral services, waste management and chemical wholesalers.
According to Toronto Public Health’s second annual ChemTRAC report,
released on June 11th, Phase 2 chemical data has identified key focus areas for 2013 including cancer prevention, toxics reduction, air quality studies, and prioritizing communities facing a double health burden (environmental justice).
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Cancer prevention |
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Toxics reduction |
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Local air quality studies |
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Environmental justice |
Read a detailed summary of key findings for Phase 2 of ChemTRAC here.
Key links:
- ChemTRAC website
- ChemTRAC Annual Report - June 2013
- Board of Health meeting agenda - June 14th 2013
- Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition Media Advisory -June 13th 2013
- Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition Media Release -June 14th 2013
More information:
- How you can use ChemTRAC data to take action!
- Why ChemTRAC is important
- TEA Media Release - June 20 2012 - "Toronto first city in Canada with new Pollution Prevention Tool"
- Find out why Toronto businesses love ChemTRAC
- About ChemTRAC and the Community Right to Know
- History of TEA's Community Right to Know campaign
About ChemTRAC and the Community Right-to-Know
The ChemTRAC program is a result of Toronto's 'Community Right-to-Know' by-law, first of it's kind in Canada. Officially called the Environmental Reporting & Disclosure by-law, it requires public reporting from Institutional, Commercial and Industrial users and manufacturers of 25 priority toxic substances. It is an important tool for politicians and communities to protect human health and the environment.
The public can now search for toxic chemical information by location, by
company name, or by substance. ChemTRAC also provides support for
businesses to improve reporting, to create pollution prevention plans
and toxic reduction strategies, to reduce risks for the community.
- Until now, nearly 40,000 businesses and institutions in Toronto didn't have to disclose what chemicals, and in what quantities they used and released.
- Armed with information you and your politicians can make real choices about how to reduce your community's risk from toxic chemicals.
- When industries come under public scrutiny they work harder to clean up their act. They find ways to stop using toxic chemicals reduce releases and prevent accidents.