NEWS AND EVENTS
Intrinsik Scientist speak at Brownfield’s Marketplace – Breakfast Summit Series
Intrinsik Executive Vice-President and Senior Scientist to participate at CANBUILD – Ontario Brownfields Regulatory Summit
Intrinsik President and Senior Scientist part of local host committee for AWMA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Calgary, Alberta
[ 2010 ARCHIVED NEWS ]
[ 2009 ARCHIVED NEWS ]

FEATURED PROJECTS & INITIATIVES

Human Health Assessments of Diesel Rail Corridor

Metrolinx, the Ontario government’s transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA), was proposing to increase the capacity of the GO Transit service in the Georgetown South Rail Corridor, as well as provide for a new rail link between Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport. As part of a comprehensive Environmental Assessment (EA) process, Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc. was retained to assess the potential human health implications associated with increased air emissions in the Georgetown South Service Corridor as a result of increased rail service levels as outlined in the Metrolinx 15 year plan. The project was completed in accordance with the Transit Project Assessment Process (Ontario Regulation 231/08).

The primary goals of the assessment was to evaluate the potential impacts of projected increased diesel emissions from rail traffic along the rail corridor, and to determine the health implications to potentially sensitive individuals living, working, or playing in the surrounding communities, under “worst case” exposure conditions. While this assessment was primarily focused on inhalation risks related to ground level air concentrations predicted along the corridor, it also evaluated the potential risks associated with deposition of particulate onto soils and home gardens in the surrounding area.

This project also involved a significant amount of public consultation activities, including discussions with the public at multiple rounds of public open houses, presentations for key community stakeholders and political representatives, as well as consultation with relevant municipal, provincial, and federal regulators.

The Ministry of the Environment approved the EA on October 5th, 2009, and Metrolinx is moving forward with the proposed upgrades to the Georgetown South rail corridor.