Measurement of Benzene Emissions from Gasoline Dispensing Facilities

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)’s mandate includes the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment, including water, air and soil quality. Accordingly, ECCC works in conjunction with Health Canada (HC) and other departments to understand the risks posed by the release of toxic substances, then develop policy as needed to effectively manage these releases. Benzene is recognized as a human carcinogen by HC (Canada 1993) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (IARC 2018), among other international agencies. In addition, short-term exposure (over hours to days) is associated with hematotoxicity, including during fetal development. Benzene is a constituent of gasoline and, as a volatile organic compound (VOC), readily evaporates and is released into the atmosphere from gasoline service stations. Exposure to benzene through inhalation of emissions from these facilities may pose unacceptable risks to human health for members of the general population residing in the vicinity of gasoline stations. ECCC wishes to study benzene concentrations in the air in the vicinity of gasoline stations Canada, ideally in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, to improve understanding of the human health implications of benzene emissions from these facilities and validate the efficacy of emissions control equipment in cases where it is installed. The contractor will contribute to this objective by measuring ambient concentrations of benzene and, where feasible, other VOCs or total VOCs at gasoline stations before, during, and after gasoline deliveries, in accordance with the parameters set out in this Statement of Work. The Contractor must perform and complete the Work within the period commencing upon notification of acceptance of the offer and ending no later than March 31, 2027. For additional information, interested suppliers should contact Helena Lee at; Helena.Lee@ec.gc.ca.