Canadian Trucking Balks at Diesel's 'Toxic' Label

Canada’s ongoing regulatory struggle to classify diesel particulate matter has provoked a strong response from the trucking industry.

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In documents released August 11, the Canadian Trucking Alliance came out swinging against Environment Canada’s classification of diesel emissions as “toxic.”

“A regulatory proposal from Environment Canada to designate emissions of particulate matter as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act is not substantiated by science and could mean an increased regulatory burden and civil liability for users of diesel fuel,” said CTA in a press release.

On June 10, Environment Canada officially added PM-10 emissions (particulate matter of less than 10 microns) to CEPA’s list of toxic substances. According to the act, a substance can be classified as toxic if it constitutes a danger to human life. Environmental Canada posited that, “scientists have concluded that under the current state of scientific knowledge, there is ample evidence that particulate matter causes serious human health impacts, and its declaration as toxic is completely justified.”

CTA responded by declaring that research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has raised questions about the relationship between PM-10 and negative health effects. To bolster its position, the alliance submitted its own scientific documentation produced by GlobalTox International Consultants, Guelph, Ontario.