Letter from Kamloops Physicians and Surgeons

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on December 2nd, 2011 6:00am

In light of Federal Environmental Minister Peter Kent's refusal to appoint an independant panel review "at this time" for the Ajax Mine, we would like to present the following letter that was also sent to Peter Kent on behalf of the Physicians and Surgeons of the City of Kamloops and surrounding area. There was overwhelming support by the majority of the physicians and surgeons  for a Federal Panel Review, and 60 signatures were obtained in a period of 3 days. A PDF copy is attached here.

 

A Letter to The Honorable Peter Kent, Minister of Environment, from the Physicians and Surgeons of the City of Kamloops and Surrounding Area

The proposed Ajax Mine located partly in the City of Kamloops and within 2kms of the nearest residences and an elementary school, will be blasting 180,000 tonnes of rock every day of the year.

Large amounts of  dust will be generated, many tonnes a year, and will be distributed within the Thompson River Valley where Kamloops lies, downwind and downslope of the proposed mine.  The dust will contribute to a marked deterioration in the air shed quality of the valley for many kilometres, since the city is subject to huge amounts of wind from the southwest.

The dust produced will contain particulate matter of sizes damaging to the human lung, and will contain contaminants from the minerals within the ore, such as Arsenic, Cadmium, Strontium,  Manganese, and others.  These particles can damage healthy lungs.  Even more they will adversely affect anyone with pre-existing lung problems such as Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, or Cystic Fibrosis.

“The important lesson we can gain from available research is that the direction of these studies is clear -- air pollution is harmful to health, and if reduced/avoided an improvement in population health can be expected.“

(Provincial Health Officer’s Annual Report 2003 – Air Quality in British Columbia, A Public Health Perspective, page 61)

Kamloops citizens deserve the most rigorous investigation about the particulate emissions, and what trace minerals toxic or otherwise may be contained within them, to assess the potential effect on our air shed quality. 

We, the Physicans and Surgeons of the Kamloops Area, are writing to ask for an Independent Panel Review of the proposed Ajax Mine project.

Comments

Konrad Glowczynski on 2011-12-03 00:20:36

I hope the proposed mine project can be stopped.I would like to think that majority is against the proposed mine ,and if this is the case we should be able to stop it from becoming a reality,or maybe we have little or nothig to say about it and just fulling ouer selfs that enyone is listening.

Joey Jack on 2011-12-05 13:27:52

Are we allowed to see who signed it?

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