TRU prof talks on air pollution this afternoon

NEWS — The economic cost of air pollution will be examined in a presentation today by Dr. Peter Tsigaris, a professor at Thompson Rivers University.

He gets underway at 2 p.m. in the TRU (Alumni) Theatre and, judging by the past several presentations on subjects surrounding the Ajax issue, it would be wise to get there a little early to be guaranteed of a seat.

If you’re a curling fan, there’s lots of time to sandwich Tsigaris’ talk between this morning’s bronze medal game and the late-afternoon gold medal game at the Brier.

Tsigaris will analyze the cost of deteriorating air quality in Kamloops, including a “valuation” of potential health impacts resulting from the proposed Ajax mine.

“Our own lifestyle and technology, existing industries, and new projects such as the (proposed) Ajax mine would produce benefits to producers and consumers around the world, but economic activity comes with external/social costs,” Tsigaris has said.

The talk is entitled, “What are the possible economic costs of increased air pollution in Kamloops?”

The TRU Faculty Association’s human rights committee and the TRU Eco Club are co-sponsoring the event. Dr. Tom Dickinson, TRU’s Dean of Science, will moderate.

Admission is free of charge. Don’t forget Daylight Saving Time came into effect today.