BY BILL BRADLEY
Two Lively residents are complaining of health problems because of soot falling on their property from Inco tailings across the road.
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Robin Schwartzberg say neighbours in the Rockville area of Walden have told her this is the fourth year in a row for dust problems. Inco advises people to contact their doctors if they have health concerns. |
Robin and Laurelee Schwartzberg, residents of Suzanne Street in Rockville area are concerned that whenever there is a high powered wind blowing from the north, there is a problem.
Robin Schwartzberg say neighbours have told her this is the fourth year in a row for dust problems. "Any winds blowing this way, pick it up, and bring it here.
She has complained of problems breathing and is consulting with medical specialists.
Dust from the tailings was particularly bad on two nights in early April.
"I didn?t realize how much soot was in the air,? Laurelee Schwatzberg, who has only lived in the area since February.
The couple called Inco officials to complain. The company has agreed to pay for cleaning their house and vehicle.
According to Cory McPhee, spokesperson for Inco, a number of residents in the Rockville area have complained about tailings dust. The company hired contractors were hired to clean their houses and vehicles as well.
?We respect residents? concerns. The situation was not acceptable," it is "something we will try to get on top of in the future,? said McPhee.
"For years we?ve been monitoring the health of workers who work at the site itself and exposure levels are too low to be harmful,? he said.
?Basically the dust is 95 per cent silica sand. There are iron sulphides and nickel and copper but they represent under one per cent of the total."
McPhee encouraged residents to see their family doctors if they have health concerns.
?That way their doctors and our occupational health specialists can talk doctor to doctor."
McPhee said the "dust" problem was a result of severe environmental conditions.
"We had an early thaw. The snow went leaving the dust exposed and then the temperature dropped. We did use dust suppressants and experimented with straw, an effective and environmentally friendly tactic,? said McPhee.
Inco is planning a public meeting to discuss residents concerns.
Currently a major environmental initiative, the Sudbury Soils Study, funded by Inco and Falconbridge Ltd., is underway to assess the environmental health of Sudbury soils and the impact of elevated metals on human health.
For more information visit www.sudburysoilsstudy.com or phone 690-4936.
