Natural gas/bio methane is the alternative to oil derived fuels and has uniquely low emissions of toxic or carcinogenic substances, almost zero particulate emissions, no emissions of reactive hydrocarbons, reduced NOx emissions, as well as reduced noise, which makes it an ideal motor fuel in urban surroundings.

E. whereas 10 years ago more than 100 000 cubic meters of cyanide-tainted water had been released from a gold mine reservoir in Baia Mare (Romania) into the Somes-Tisza-Danube river system and caused the largest ecological disaster of central Europe at that time; whereas toxic materials killed many organisms damaging the ecological system, food chain and essential human use of the river for many years; whereas 100% of planktons, 82% of fish and 50-60% of aquatic invertebrates were reported to have been killed on the most contaminated section of the Tisza River,

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada revise the Toxic Substances Management Policy (TSMP) to permit the inclusion of natural substances in Track 1 and subsequently to target mercury for virtual elimination with the goal of reducing it to naturally occurring background levels.

Research will focus on the impact of global change (climate change, land use, globalisation), multiple exposures via different exposure routes, speciation and toxicology, identification of pollution sources and new or emerging environmental stressors and the interactions thereof with natural agents and components (e.g. harmful gases, fine and ultrafine particles of an animate and inanimate nature, indoor and outdoor air, electromagnetic fields, noise, exposure to toxic substances ...[+++], gases and car emissions and exposure to solar radiation ) and their potential health effects, analyses of syndromes and chronic exposure, interactions of toxic substances and mixtures of such substances, analyses of genetic polymorphisms and immunology tests, including tests for lymphocyte transformation and activation .

Research will focus on the impact of global change (climate change, land use, globalisation), multiple exposures via different exposure routes, speciation and toxicology, identification of pollution sources and new or emerging environmental stressors and the interactions thereof with natural agents and components (e.g. harmful gases, fine and ultrafine particles of an animate and inanimate nature, indoor and outdoor air, electromagnetic fields, noise, exposure to toxic substances ...[+++], gases and car emissions and exposure to solar radiation) and their potential health effects, analyses of syndromes and chronic exposure, interactions of toxic substances and mixtures of such substances, analyses of genetic polymorphisms and immunology tests, including tests for lymphocyte transformation and activation.

I'm not arguing that toxic substances can derive from natural or man-made sources, there are toxic substances that are in use that the precautionary principle of CEPA needs to look at extremely carefully.