The health assessment was conducted by Dr. Richard Stanwick, Chief Medical Health Officer with the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) in consultation with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). The health assessment was based on 2009 data collected during the third phase of an air quality study in James Bay. This study found that while no current BC provincial air quality guidelines were exceeded, World Health Organization (WHO) and proposed US EPA guidelines for SO₂ were occasionally exceeded. The air quality study found these temporary spikes occurred at the same time that cruise ships were arriving, departing or were docked at Ogden Point.
“Based on the data in the James Bay air quality study, I have determined that these occasional spikes in SO₂ levels could exacerbate health conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma, particularly if individuals with these chronic conditions are not managing their disease well,” said Dr. Stanwick. “Given the episodic and seasonal variations observed in the data, long term negative health effects are not anticipated for neighbourhood residents. However, short term effects such as difficulty breathing (wheezing) could occur in susceptible and even in non-compromised individuals, particularly during exercise when deep breathing would cause SO₂ to reach deeply into the lungs.”
Dr. Stanwick recommends that individuals with respiratory conditions consult with their physician to ensure they are optimally self-managing their chronic conditions, and that they avoid exercise and perhaps even being outdoors when air quality might be poor. Dr. Stanwick is also calling on the cruise ship industry and the Port of Victoria to voluntarily switch to lower sulphur emission fuel while in, and near the port. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently passed guidelines which will require use of such fuel by August 2012.
“When assessing health impact of issues such as air quality, it is standard practice to also assess the risk of death associated with exposure,” explained Stanwick. “In this case, we found the impact of cruise ship SO₂ on deaths too small to be accurately measured epidemiologically, and we found no evidence of increased deaths or emergency department visits associated with the increased levels.”
In response to concerns from the James Bay Neighbourhood Association about air quality, air quality monitoring studies were undertaken during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 cruise ship seasons. The studies were a partnership amongst the Ministry of Environment, Capital Regional District, and the University of Victoria, with collaboration from the James Bay Neighbourhood Association, the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
The 2009 air quality study used a Mobile Air Monitoring Lab (MAML) provided by the Ministry of Environment and was carried out by researchers from the University of Victoria. The monitor was parked at Macdonald Park in James Bay – a location selected based on predictions from the previous phases of the air quality assessment as a location optimally suited to capture SO₂ levels when cruise ships were at dock. The MAML measured substance levels continuously to enable the averaging of concentrations over shorter time periods (10 minutes and 1 hour). The sampling occurred during the height of the cruise ship season between May 30 and Aug 24, 2009.
“Air quality is an important concern and of significant interest for the general population,” said Dr. Stanwick. “While the potential health impact and overall quality of life effect on some James Bay residents is recognized, overall, Victoria has, and will strive to maintain, excellent air quality.”
Both the 2009 air quality study and the health assessment were released today and are available at: www.viha.ca/about_viha/news/publications
The previous two air quality studies are also available online at: www.viha.ca/mho/air_quality.htm
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Media Contact:
Shannon Marshall
VIHA Communications
250-370-8270