Imperial Oil's Nanticoke, Ontario, refinery reported 620 ppm sulphur in the second quarter of 1999, and 460 ppm in the third. The world-leading California standard limits sulphur content to an average of 30 ppm. This standard must be met in Canada in 2005 under a regulation set by the Government of Canada in 1999. Imperial Oil and other oil companies still oppose the first step in this regulation that requires sulphur to come down to 150 ppm by 2002. The group is urging cottage country-bound Ontario motorists to strike a blow for clean air and public health by boycotting Imperial Oil's ESSO gasoline when they fill up this Victoria Day weekend.
Regular gasoline sold in Ontario has the highest sulphur content in Canada.
Sulphur particles resulting from cars burning high sulphur gasoline and from other sources form the most health-damaging part of summer smog. Burning Imperial's dirty gasoline increases emissions of sulphur dioxide and sulphate particles from cars. Breathing sulphate particles causes asthma symptoms, respiratory problems, hospital admissions and premature deaths. Sulphur in gasoline has a demonstrated negative impact on human health, yet Imperial Oil continues to fight the Government of Canada's sulphur reduction timetable. By Chance, Nfld.