By Bill Trench
Although most residents continue to demand better health facilities, the town of Fort Erie seems determined to welcome into the community a polluting giant, the toxic effects of which could affect the health of residents on both sides of the Niagara River for decades. I refer of course to the proposed motor speedway.
Architect's rendition of proposed NASCAR race track for Fort Erie, Ontario
While proponents trumpet their support of auto racing, the public at large continues in blissful ignorance of the very real threat that this endeavour poses to Fort Erie and the whole Niagara area. In a word: LEAD.
Have locals forgotten the pollution of Love Canal?
The problems with mercury in the irreplaceable fish stocks? The illnesses and deaths caused by asbestos? Apparently so, because now they are prepared to accept the pollution of our neighbourhoods by lead, one of the most toxic substances known to man. Because of its extreme danger to health, the Canadian and U.S. governments spent billions of dollars to enforce regulations to remove lead from gasoline. What is little known, however, is that both governments granted an exemption from these regulations to motor sports. While this exemption was originally due to expire in 2008, it was extended in Canada to January 2010 and then further extended indefinitely.
As the website envirolaw.com noted in November 2011: “… leaded gas is still being used in racing cars and trucks in Canada, with no end in sight. People who live near races are usually distressed about the impact of the noise on their health; do they even know about the lead threat?” This information can easily be confirmed by visiting the Environment Canada website and looking at the current regulations as modified on 2011-11-17. The stated purpose of the leaded gas exemption was to preserve economic activity at existing race tracks. It was not intended to encourage new lead emissions!
The new speedway is expected to operate year-round, depositing toxic lead into the adjacent wetlands. Once there it can poison the flora and fauna, drain into the Niagara River and be carried to Niagara Falls, Niagara-On-The-Lake and all the other communities on both sides of the river.
The deadly effects of lead in the environment have been well documented. Because lead is a chemical element, it never degrades. It is a powerful neurotoxin that can produce behavioral irregularities or permanent mental retardation. While everyone is at risk, lead poses the greatest danger to children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. All pro-lead arguments pale in comparison to the need to protect children’s mental development. Is any sport worth the possible infliction of physical and mental disease on our unaware and trusting children?
None of this appears to interest the inhabitants of Fort Erie. There is no excuse for this deliberate blindness. Lead’s long-term effects have been exhaustively researched and documented which is why governments have acted to ban it. Now Fort Erie welcomes it. This makes no sense at all. The public’s health should be the first consideration of our elected officials.
Wake up Niagara! Are you willing to sacrifice the health of your children and of future generations so that comparatively few people can watch vehicles ride round and round a track? Think about it carefully. Think very carefully.
Bill Trench is a Fort Erie, Ontario resident and a member of the Niagara area citizens group, the Niagara Heritage Alliance.
(We welcome you to share your views on this post. Please remember that we only post comments by people willing to share their real first and last names.)
Niagara At Large 
Another pipe dream of the small, parochial minds on the council. Not unlike when a new Welcome Centre was built in a totally illogical place (although I believe that was provincial / Hudak) resulting in almost no visitors and a cavernous, largely unused building. I guess they thought it would bring people to the Casino. The same with moving a once bustling Celtic Festival to the race track. An abysmal location but close to….wait for it…the Casino. The result was it was returned to the parkway but is basically dead. The town of Fort Erie couldn’t organize a one car funeral. They always have grandious ideas that fall flatter than pi$$ in a plate.
LikeLike
Thank you, Mr Trench! I had no idea that lead-containing gasoline was still used in racing cars. That fact, more than noise pollution of the environment, obviously is now the main reason for obstructing and preventing this raceway. All doctors in Niagara – and the local Health Unit – should, after your eye-opener, be openly opposed to the local mayor’s pet economic project.
LikeLike
This is the same article that appeared on another local blog. RACE CARS DO NOT USE GAS CONTAINING LEAD! This is just another falsehood being spread as scare tatctics to incite panic.
LikeLike
If you live in Fort Erie what you should be afraid of is that huge septic tank called Lake Erie, Toledo,Ohio recently dredged their harbour put the stuff on barges, the stuff was too toxic to landfill, so they sailed the barges into the centre of the lake and pumped the toxic stew back into the lake, The lake is already breeding blue/green algae that is producing botulism toxins that are lethal, tons washing up at Waverly Beach.The speedway does not scare me one little bit. but the largest toxic dump in North America does.
LikeLike
NASCAR has switched to a non leaded E15 ethanol blend and gone from carburetors to fuel injection . Please see attached link
http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/business/10/16/nascar-ethanol-fuel-in-2011/index.html
LikeLike
RACE CARS DO NOT USE GAS CONTAINING LEAD!
Where is the evidence to prove this statement ????
I just want to know the truth !!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Do race cars use gasoline like normal cars do or do they use something else? This short article helps clarify the question: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/question202.htm
LikeLike
I think the point here is not even about health risks but about the noise, usage of sensitive environment and stupid projects that fail 90% of the time in this great burg of Fort Dreary.
LikeLike
Here’s a link with some answers.
<a href="http://
LikeLike
There seems to be a discrepancy regarding use of leaded fuel in race vehicles. The following is from an article in Niagara this Week by Paul Forsyth, May 27, 2010.
“…Peter Bicknell, co-owner of the local speedway, said it’s expected the government will consider approving the exemption in early June. But if there are delays, that could spell trouble for Canadian speedways.
While many Canadian racers already use unleaded fuel, Bicknell said American racers — where leaded gas is allowed in racing cars — don’t.
Four major racing competitions at the Merrittville Speedway draw mostly American racers, meaning without the exemption those events could be at risk, said Bicknell. ….
City councillors unanimously supported a motion by Coun. Jim Handley that the federal government exempt the racing industry from the leaded fuel ban. Handley said the local track draws about 30,000 racing fans a year.
At Mayor Henry D’Angela’s suggestion, the Thorold motion will be sent to other Ontario towns and cities to get more support for the exemption…”
In addition to fuels burned by the race vehicles, think about the hours of lined up idling vehicles that will make many streets impassable for hours at a time before and after an event. Would you like to live there and have all the fine particles infiltrate your lungs? If you are a race fan or speedway supporter my guess is yes you would because you could rent parking space on your lawn (hopefullly the cars don’t leak anything toxic on your lawn). Perhaps not many people have watched someone die from lung cancer or asthma.
You want to see heath care costs go down? Stop willfully polluting the environment. Think of your children!
LikeLike
Great idea! Let’s just add to the existing miasma and welcome this polluter to our town.
LikeLike
We already have dozens of trucks idling, across the QEW at the compound plus the ones one the bridge 24/7 while some of the autos idling may spew gasoline fumes, my car is an ethanol burning car and electric cars are selling like hot cakes,the spectre of cars spewing gases may not be valid in the near future, The Province want’s this project and the designation of Niagara Region as Tourism and Recreational was made back in the early 1970s by the Bill Davis survey project, The site is close to the border, the land has no soil depth,hard limestone under the near surface, a new sewer line goes close to the site as well, The OMB will allow this project to go ahead, despite the objectors, The OMB passed the Bay Beach plan and that was a lousy deal for the public, The main reason will be, another location would have a larger environmental foot print,Don’t forget Lackawanna is no longer spewing smoke and ash , when it had the steel mills there,.our air is the cleanest it’s been in over a hundred years, lead shot has been replaced by steel shot for duck hunters, leaded gas is no longer available, lead paint is now banned, my uncle who was a painter died of lead poisoning.it was used on all iron and metal as undercoat.The water we drink is the toxic stuff.
LikeLike
I wonder if the same people who endorse the Speedway oppose wind turbines on the basis that they’re a health hazard?
LikeLike
Wake up and smell the roses or did I mean wake up and inhale toxic leaded gas into my lungs.
Wake up Fort Erie and read the facts!!!
LikeLike
Wake up and smell the roses or did I mean wake up and inhale toxic leaded gas!!!
Wake up Fort Erie and read the facts!!!
LikeLike
I have noted the comments above and, as the author of the original letter, I shall try again.
The Canadian government has exempted competition vehicles from the ban on leaded fuel. This exemption was extended indefinitely in 2010. For those interested in facts and not hysterical opinion, the federal government current regulation can be found at http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2010/2010-04-03/html/reg2-eng.html
The regulation states in part: “The objective of the proposed Amendments is to prevent significant negative impacts on Canadian race tracks, affiliated businesses and local communities.” It says nothing about the building of new race tracks.
The regulation also states (under the heading: Impact of lead on the health of spectators, employees, participants and local residents): “There is evidence of adverse effects associated with chronic elevated blood lead levels for several body systems: neurological, cardiovascular, reproductive, blood, immune and kidney. Developmental neurotoxicity and cardiovascular toxicity are the outcomes with the greatest relative weight of evidence for adverse effects at low blood lead concentrations.”
Bottom line?
1. Canadian race tracks feature competition vehicles using leaded fuel.
2. Lead is dangerous to health.
3. Fort Erie just can’t wait to welcome a racetrack.
LikeLike
Hey, Nice Blog. You have a post for the Best Stories.
LikeLike
Why not have an electric car speedway?
LikeLike
It is one thing that Canada ALLOWS leaded gas for competition racing. However the racing associations DISALLOW its use.
LikeLike
Maybe we should put a wind farm next to the track, and see which emits the most pollutants.
LikeLike
I think the Speedway could be used for lot’s of events such as concerts and sub as as Fairgrounds, Festivals such as the Celtic Festivals , with highland games , squaredancing , how about a Calgary type stampede, the uses are endless,a huge outdoor flea market, the fact we are so close to Buffalo is a huge drawing card.
LikeLike
Fact:
Idling cars can harm our health
The toxics emitted from idling can impair our lungs and heart, and idling fumes have been linked to asthma, decreased lung function, cardiac disease, cancer and other serious health problems. Prolonged exposure can even lead to death. Kids, the elderly and folks with respiratory ailments are especially at risk.
Idling just one gas car for 5 minutes a day can emit as many as 25 pounds of harmful air pollutants and 260 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, the major greenhouse gas.
http://www.fcgov.com/breatheeasy
Fact:
Idling contributes to respiratory illness. The emissions of even today’s modern vehicles contain Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Benzene and several other toxic chemicals that impair our lungs and heart. Prolonged exposure can lead to death. Children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma are especially at high.
Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe faster than adults and inhale more air per pound of body weight.
http://www.makealeap.org/idling_myth
Spark those engines.
LikeLike
Has any body ever drove a car on the 401 during the rush hour? ever spent an hour on the Peace Bridge on a hot day during the summer,anybody been waiting an hour on the interstate trying to get to Darien Lake.? nomebody complains about that,.the key to anything is timing, and common sense, good planning and being prepared will make the scenario a lessor evil.
LikeLike
Yes, Mr. Jardine. I’ve spent unpleasant moments in lineups at the Peace Bridge. Now try to imagine compounding those backups when 30,000 vehicles – most of which will be big trucks pulling camper vehicles – all try to exit the speedway site at exactly the same time at the end of each (mainly Summer) racing event. Even the speedway ownership group has acknowledged the potential for bumper-to-bumper traffic lasting 7-8 hours and they have no idea what to do about it, except to offer suggested alternative routes that will involve Garrison Road and the Niagara Parkway. So as the traffic lines the QEW (blocking accessibility to area hospitals BTW) and backs up onto local streets for hours every summer Sunday, are you suggesting ‘good planning’ and ‘being prepared’ will protect us from the ghastly air pollution that we’ll be able to cut with a knife? Gasp. Wheez.
LikeLike
Let’s not try to lessen the pollution in the air. Let’s keep bringing it on!!
LikeLike
This whole deal stinks and not just from exhaust fumes.
LikeLike
When you are proven wrong about your fear of LEAD poisoning race car gasoline rely on your last resort. Switch gears to a different fear.
LikeLike
Bill Trench is either a complete ignoramus or intentionally disseminating false information. Regardless of government exemption, neither of the major series the Fort Erie track is hoping to attract uses leaded gasoline. Nascar uses E15, which is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. Ethanol is blended with gasoline as a means to raise the octane rating without using lead. The Indy Racing League runs 100% fuel grade ethanol, which is ethyl alcohol that is denatured with 2% gasoline to prevent it being used for human consumption.
http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/business/10/16/nascar-ethanol-fuel-in-2011/index.html
http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=200704023925
LikeLike
What a blatant, uninformed, one-sided smear campaign. I will not cooment on what the linked article says but you need to fully understand the CONTEXT of what it is referring to. 9 of the 14 speedways listed were not speedways or racetracks they were DRAGSTRIPS for drag racing. 4 other tracks were DIRT speedways that are used by vehicles completely different than what the Fort Erie track would use. The vehicles that would race on the proposed Fort Erie track would be STOCK CARS or INDYCARS and leaded gasoline is nonexistent with them. This isn’t going to be your small local 1/4 mile track being built where Joe Blow shows up on Saturday night with a custom built car to race on. There’s nothing wrong with opposing development or specifically this development but at least make sure you’re fully educated on the topic and have valid information behind your reasoning. Any person who read your article and didn’t read the comments below left this website more uninformed than when they got here.
LikeLike
I just don’t understand why the people in Fort Erie are so scared of progress you have nothing there no jobs or industry and when someone offers you a wonderful chance for improvement you dont want it or you fight to have it stopped. Wake up people a speedway produces no more emissions than the line up at the border on a daily basis.What it will produce is revenue.The revenue will be large and enjoyed by the entire area.Hotels,Motels,Restaurants and gas stations will boom on race weekends.It will also help Niagara Falls tourist area with and influx of new visitors.
LikeLike
I have lived here for 41 years and found no one in this Town that is against this project. The whole Town Council is 100% behind it, many do believe this will not solve the unemployment here, it would give the Town international exposure, which could , in turn, could focus on how close we are to the United States and a possible place to start business here. I know the people who have had a death grip on this Town for the past 40 years. Many belong to the Chamber of Commerce. which are a clique that think they should run the Town, which they have done , to the detriment of our Town. As they have no experience in the world outside of their little bubble. The EDTA has, after spending over ten million dollars made our situation worse, not better.
LikeLike
I see what you are saying,the will of a few to the detriment of the whole.They need to be educated and quickly.The proposed area is a mess of brush with a creek which will be preserved and instaed of a useless piece of land a prosperous money making,job producing venture.I have been involved with racing and race tracks all my life and they are great for the area and economy.It will be a boost to our whole region [ilive in niagara falls]and we need it NOW.Please people let it happen before it is to late and the opportunity slips away.
LikeLike