Emissions from manufacturer Birla Carbon were "a primary source" of the soot falling on Hamilton neighbourhoods last month, Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has said.
Black dust falling over neighbourhoods in Hamilton is a perennial issue going back decades, particularly near the eastern industrial area. However, residents and local politicians said the soot fall in early July was particularly heavy and affected areas that are not usually impacted.
The sooty fallout was so bad — coating homes and ending up on pets and children — that many residents called on elected leaders to address the problem.
On Tuesday evening, ministry spokesperson Lindsay Davidson told CBC Hamilton that officials have "referred Birla for formal investigation by the ministry’s environmental investigations and enforcement branch for potential violations of Ontario’s environmental laws."
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Birla Carbon told CBC Hamilton that it's "co-operating fully" with the ministry.
CBC asked what could have caused the emissions and what might have been emitted.
Spokesperson Roysten Dmello did not address those questions, instead saying, "the company has not received any communication or copy of the report from MECP with regard to the ministry’s findings."
Birla Carbon's factory on Parkdale Avenue N. is its only one in Canada, according to its website. The company, which produces carbon black, is active in 14 countries.
Carbon black is a fine black powder used in manufacturing products, including rubber and plastic.
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The government shared its analysis and sampling results with Hamilton Public Health, according to Davidson, the ministry spokesperson.
The ministry will require Birla Carbon "to take all necessary action to prevent future incidents," Davidson said.
Public health staff are assessing the ministry's findings and consulting with toxicological experts, Dr. Bart Harvey, Hamilton's associate medical officer of health, said in an email.
"Hamilton Public Health will be commenting publicly on our assessment in the coming days, including any potential health impacts identified through our review," Harvey said.
