Quebec public health wants smelter’s arsenic emissions cut to 5 times provincial norm – CBC

Top doctor says new cap safe for Rouyn-Noranda residents until air quality ‘eventually’ improves

Aug 10, 2022

Quebec’s public health director is recommending that arsenic levels in the air of a western Quebec city be reduced significantly, but even then they would remain five times higher than the provincial standard.

Dr. Luc Boileau told reporters in Rouyn-Noranda Wednesday that average emissions of 15 nanograms of arsenic per cubic metre of air would be a safe level for people in the city until air quality is “eventually” improved to the provincial standard of three nanograms of arsenic per cubic metre.

“We have to obtain, eventually, the level that is required by the Quebec norms,” he said.

However, in the meantime, he said the 15-nanogram level would allow for “strong protection for the health of unborn babies and young children” and would reduce the risk of lung cancer for the entire population.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-public-health-smelter-emissions-cut-1.6547669

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