Health

After much debate, the proposed Clarington incinerator has been approved by Durham Region council.

After a debate which has been heated on both sides, and after around 70 people and groups expressed concerns about the project, the motion passed 16-12.

A waste incinerator for Durham Region, approved to be built in Clarington, will not have air monitoring tests performed once the facility begins operating.

The incinerator, proposed in 2007 and approved in a 19 to 7 council vote in 2008, is a joint project with York Region. It is intended to be built south of Highway 401 near the nuclear power plant.

The city of Toronto just passed a bylaw that will allow you to know more about the chemicals potentially in your local neighbourhood.

Council approved overwhelmingly to approve the bylaw, which will require local businesses to report on their emissions of 25 identified substances. The required reporting comes into effect on January 1, 2010, phased in by June 30, 2013.

The Oak Ridges Moraine supplies drinking water to more than 250,000 people and contains the headwaters of all of the watersheds in Toronto. It is important to our water as it filters rain and snow and releases fresh water that we drink.

According to an article in the Toronto Star, the province allowed 70,000 tires to be buried on a farm on the moraine almost 10 years ago.

A personal review from our recent experiences with glass baby bottles.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation believes that "Air pollution is now a year-long threat to the heart health of Canadians", while several recent studies have suggested that air pollution from traffic can be harmful for your heart.