Clean and fresh air is a rare commodity, especially in the city. Gone are the days when one can keep a shirt spotless after strolling through the busy sidewalks of the city. Driving top-down is no longer refreshing. Air pollution is visible everywhere: cigarette smoke, black emission from vehicles, and burning of fuels by industrial factories. However, that which is invisible to the naked eye can be most dangerous. Road dust, which is a source of fine particulate matter in the air, has major repercussions to people's health.
Respiratory problems due to dust inhalation can result to increased hospital admissions or premature deaths. Road dusts come from deposition of vehicle and industrial emissions from the air, and particulate matter from worn-out tires and pavements. Studies have shown that they contain toxic levels of chromium, manganese, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Aside from this, particulate matter of finer fragments can be transported as runoffs and thus contaminate the waterways. For this reason, Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has implemented street sweeping projects to address this particular problem.
People in GTA understand that street sweeping is a vital part of healthy living. The city has provided its own armada of street sweepers that operate on every inch of its urban and semi-urban roads. To supplement its workforce, the city also lets private contractors to operate. Spring season is the busiest and most difficult time for street sweepers due to the accumulation of debris from the fall through the winter season. In advance, the city government sends out memos for the schedule of street sweeping. As all streets are logistically and strategically planned, people are advised not to park their cars on the street scheduled for sweeping. The method of street sweeping initially involves flushing for loosening of the accumulated debris and road dusts. Sidewalks and median islands are also flushed before the street sweeper makes its pass. Road dusts are hauled to the truck by vacuum and mechanical means. After which, loaded trucks are then transported to proper disposal sites.
In 1999, a study was done by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, the City of Hamilton, McMaster University, industry partners and Clean Air Hamilton to investigate the efficiency of street sweeping in decreasing air particulate levels. Their research team concluded that when road flushing, mechanical sweeping and vacuuming were all done, air particulate levels in the area were reduced. Aside from this, the frequency of sweeping, and technology used in the sweeper have their direct influence on the efficiency of particulate collection. The more efficient the collection of finer fragments, there will be less particulate matter for dispersion into the air due to traffic. For this reason, street sweeping vehicles are tested and fine-tuned to achieve the highest performance scores in removing road dusts.
The Toronto Green Guide contains current environmental projects, programs and policies of the city. Strategies for improving air quality, apart from advocating hybrid electric, biodiesel and natural gas powered cars and trucks, also include street sweeping as a means to promote better air quality.
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