Toronto’s public transit unions are demanding that their workers be allowed to use face masks after rejecting a recent TTC report on the subway’s air quality.

In a news release Wednesday, the unions called on the TTC to do more research on a fine particulate matter called PM2.5, create parameters to reduce exposure to all known pollutants and to permit the use of face masks until a permanent solution is in place.

The transit unions said the TTC did not address the cumulative effects of these pollutants or the high levels of PM2.5. Researchers linked PM2.5 to the metallic “rail dust” that is generated when a train’s wheels rub against the tracks.

“If we had any reason to believe the conditions posed a risk to employees, they would be addressed,” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said.

The TTC said it treats the health and safety of its employees with the utmost importance, and that the study and analysis were more than a year in the making and involved employees on the health committee.

The transit unions, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2, represent more than 12,750 transit workers and electricians.

This move comes following the release of the 2019 TTC Subway Air Quality Report on July 10. The report found that pollutant levels in the subway system are within exposure limits.

In 2017, a Health Canada study conducted on air quality in the TTC showed that the Toronto subway system had the worst air quality, and the highest level of particulate matters, among other major Canadian transit systems — comparable to a smoggy day in Beijing.

The unions pointed out the TTC’s website recognizes the danger of PM2.5.

“Small particles are inhaled into the lungs,” the website says. “According to the World Health Organization, health effects of inhaling pollutants can aggravate of asthma and irritate eyes, nose and throat. PM 2.5 can be associated with an increased risk of heart and respiratory diseases, lung cancer and reduced lung function

The Star previously reported that the concentrations measured on the TTC subway system were almost three times greater than those discovered on Montreal’s Metro and five times higher than those on Vancouver’s SkyTrain.

Green said the work undertaken with Health Canada is being assessed by Toronto Public Health which will make its own determination with regards to public exposure.

In the TTC’s report, Health Canada has indicated that in regards to public health, there are no directly comparable standards for PM2.5 levels in the subway as it is a standard upheld for the outdoors only.

Green said the studies have determined the air quality is well within occupational limits and therefore masks are not necessary for employees outside of tunnel maintenance.

“The TTC says only workers in one specific section need to wear a respirator due to exposure to air pollutants,” the unions’ letter said. “What about the other hundreds of workers who want to reduce their exposure to subway air pollution? Why are they not allowed to wear a simple face mask? A face mask is the easiest way to limit exposure.”

The TTCs report released in July said based on the results of 5,697 air samples, the use of respiratory protection is not required for non-maintenance positions.

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The 2017 report was conducted over several weeks between 2010 and 2013. Researchers used portable air samplers to measure the air quality on the platforms and inside the trains of rail systems in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

At the time, the authors recommended that in order to reduce exposure, transit systems should improve ventilation and in-car filtration systems, and conduct regular rail dust cleaning.

With files from Ben Spurr