Toronto Poverty and Pollution

Many of us are well aware of the gap between rich and poor in this country and many of us in general believe our society is caring. This might well be true but lets examine Toronto social economic boundaries and the trend in the past couple of decades in terms of poverty and pollution.

A study done in 2004 by United Way Toronto and Canadian Council on Social Development called Poverty by Postal Code has shown a significant increase in the number of higher poverty neighbourhoods in Toronto over 20 years period. This should be alarming given the role neighbourhoods play in contributing to the overall fulfillment of social, recreational and service needs in the community.

The air pollutants listed below are the root cause of many cardio-respiratory illnesses in the city and these are generated by fossil fuel consumption.

Air Pollutants

Abbreviation	Description
SOx	Sulphur
Nox	Nitrogen Oxides
PM	Particulate Matter
CO	Carbon Monoxide
Pb	Lead
O3	Ground-level ozone

Top 15 census tracts in Toronto with the highest amounts of air releases of toxic air pollutants in 2005 (kg)

Top 15 census tracts in Toronto

Name of Neighbourhood containing Census Tract	Census Tract Number	Poverty Rate of Census Tract (%)	Air Releases of Toxic Air Pollutants in 2005 (kg)
Alderwood	211	6.4	279,825
Humbermede	313	16	275,205
Humber summit	315.03	17.9	272,215
Humber summit	315.01	15.8	259,460
West Humber	247.01	16.4	249,472
West Hill	360	12.8	182,571
Cliffcrest	335	21.2	158,720
Clairlea-Birchmont	347	12.5	124,266
Clairlea-Birchmont	348	11.2	107,084
Agincourt-Malvern	377.02	15.4	105,965
Islington-City Centre	214	6.7	100,040
York University Heights	311.06	39.5	98,624
Milliken	378.19	17.9	91,197
Eringate	236.02	7.1	78,831
Junction Area	106	27.3	67,574
Total - top 15			2,451,049
Total all census tracts in Toronto			2,819,466
Top 15 as % of all Toronto			86.90%

The map below shows the air pollution levels across Toronto. In particular a group of air pollutants called Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC), these pollutants are the main cause of smog, acid rain and other health hazards. The map below shows the air pollution levels across Toronto.

We need to be more responsible and understand the long term effects of slow response to this issue. As our population ages health problems will likely grow as a result and one way or another we as tax payers and residents of this beautiful city will end up paying the cost. What is your thoughts on this?