New Tests All But Rule Out High Toluene Levels on Sydney

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--New Tests All But Rule Out High Toluene Levels in Sydney

Confirmation testing by the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project all but rules out the presence of elevated levels of toluene in the air over Sydney.

"The problem seems to lie with one set of sampling equipment," said Walter van Veen, project manager for Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, a consultant to the cleanup.

Regular air monitoring carried out by the cleanup project at stations located in strategic positions around Sydney had returned erratic high readings of toluene in July and August, but the lack of any consistent pattern had officials doubting the results. Simultaneous tests by other devices showed no elevated readings.

Nevertheless, project officials promptly notified the medical officer of Health, the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour, and the community.

Toluene is a clear liquid with a distinctive smell that occurs naturally in crude oil, coal, and certain trees. It is used in the manufacture of such products as paints, adhesives, nail polish, rubber, and chemicals used in the printing and leather industries. Gasoline, which contains five to seven per cent toluene, is the largest source of toluene release to the atmosphere.

Confirmation tests carried out last week paired sampling canisters from a new supplier with canisters from the original supplier, and placed them at sites known only to the testers. In every case, the new canisters showed normal toluene readings, while the old ones still produced false positives.

Dr. Charl Badenhorst, district medical officer of Health, said the available data "does not reveal any evidence of long-term exposure of high levels of toluene in the air in and around the Sydney area."

Project managers have ordered an additional round of testing to re-check the findings and pin down the precise problem with the original equipment. Results should be available late next week.

"The project and the government partners are committed to the regular publication of air monitoring reports, and the prompt disclosure of readings that exceed site guidelines," said Mr. van Veen. "We flagged the strange toluene results immediately, and investigated them promptly and openly."