By Rick Pusiak
It doesn?t take a rocket scientist to figure out that after 100 years of mining and smelting in Sudbury there will be elevated levels of metals in some local soil.
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David Pearson |
However, up until recently, no scientists had done an assessment of the region to determine what, if any, health and environmental risks exist and what corrective action should be taken.
The Ministry of the Environment approved a huge sampling program last summer and a citizens advisory group, with the aid of a consultant, will soon start sifting through the data and ultimately draft a plan of battle.
Committee members are set to hold an open house at the Inco Cavern at Science North tonight (Wednesday) at 7 pm to explain what they?re up to.
?I think that people panic when they fear that something is going on that they?re not being told about,? said Laurentian University earth sciences professor Dr. David Pearson.
?We want to make sure that that doesn?t happen in Sudbury. I think also people in Sudbury realize something can be done about environmental issues. Everybody has experienced the revegetation and we know that when there?s an issue, if you come to grips with it, even if it?s a huge widespread issue, something can be done about it.?
Pearson pointed out the data from last year?s soil sampling is not back yet from Lakefield Analytical Laboratories in Peterborough.
But two years ago a ministry sampling of 100 sites found concentrations of copper, nickel, cobalt and arsenic at some places, especially close to the Copper Cliff, Falconbridge and Coniston smelter sites exceeded levels that might damage the most sensitive plants.
It was determined human beings were not at risk, said the professor.
The ministry approved last year?s larger probe, a study that would involve some 9,000 samples and two areas of focus.
Ministry, Inco and Falconbridge personnel sampled schoolyards and public places, soil from backyards as well as vegetables and fruits.
University staff sampled natural bushland as far west as Little Current, east to Sturgeon Falls and areas up to 60 kilometres north of the city.
?There?s some lack of confidence about the accuracy of the data from past studies,? said the professor.
?In order to get it right you have to do it extremely carefully. And if you?re going to go on and use those numbers as the starting point for assessing the risk to a population, to humans, and you?re going to use those numbers as a starting point for assessing the risk to the ecosystem, you have to get really good numbers.?
The current study won?t just deal with soil but metal concentrations in vegetation, water and metal particles floating in the air.
A final report will be published in 2004 followed by full public consultation.
?I think this is probably the most well designed project from the point of view of making sure the public knows what?s going on,? said Pearson.
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Franco Mariotti |
?Everybody involved that I?ve talked to wants to make sure that the public is confident that this is a good process that involves good people, that will result in good science, and that will result in good recommendations concerning the health of the environment and the community.?
The citizens advisory group is made up of two sections. Scientific matters are being handled by a technical committee with representatives from the city, the health unit, the environment ministry, Health Canada, Inco and Falconbridge. A public advisory committee was also established with First Nations representation.
Science North scientist Franco Mariotti will serve as an impartial process observer and report to the public.
?It?s not a project involving outside expertise, parachuted into the community, resulting in recommendations that tell the community what to do,? said Pearson.
?This is an exercise by the community, for the community and visible to the community.?
Pearson said if environmental problems are discovered they could be one of several kinds with several different kinds of solutions from soil removal to the simple washing of fruits and vegetables.
