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Canada asks chemical plants to check pollution after leaks hit Native community

Canada on Friday purchased some petrochemical plants in Ontario to take strict steps to control pollution from cancercausing chemical benzene after release from a facility required a First Nation community to state a state of emergency.

Federal Environment and Environment Modification Minister Steven Guilbeault released the order to the petrochemical industry in Sarnia, Ontario, a city less than 300 km (186 miles) west of Toronto.

Last month, Aamjiwnaang First Country stated a state of emergency due to a chemical release from German company INEOS Styrolution's plastic manufacturing plant, which resulted in a minimum of 10 individuals going to the medical facility.

The order will need some petrochemical production centers to execute vapor-control measures, specifically, those that have fenceline concentrations of benzene above 29 micrograms per cubic metre in any of the two-week sampling durations varying from March 1, 2023, to Feb. 29, 2024.

It is merely undesirable that the people of Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Sarnia face ongoing issues with bad air quality, Guilbeault said in a statement.

Native peoples have a right to a healthy environment and frequently are impacted by polluting industries.

Aamjiwnaang First Country, which has 1,000 citizens, is surrounded by commercial centers. The Frankfurt-based business, an unit of independently owned INEOS Group had shut down its facility on April 20.

The First Country community stated that the order will contribute to the defense of the air quality in Aamjiwnaang.

According to University of Toronto research study, around 40% of Canada's petrochemical plants lie in the Sarnia area, referred to as Chemical Valley.

(source: Reuters)