Mine Spews Toxic Fumes: NWT Air Regulations Not in Position
Last July, two incinerators in De Beers’ Snap Lake Mine were belching out clouds of smoke, one sending an average of 65 times the accepted national limit of cancer-causing toxins into the atmosphere. The elevated levels of dioxins and furans — published when plastic is burned or garbage is not fully incinerated — were recorded through a four-day”pile test” According to the World Health Organization,”dioxins are toxic and can cause developmental and reproductive difficulties, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer.” The Canada-Wide Standards recommends emission levels for dioxins and furans not exceed 80 picograms per cubic metre. The business contracted to do the testing in Snap Lake discovered that among the mine incinerators was emitting 6.5 times the acceptable limit, although another incinerator was emitting a whopping 65 times the acceptable limit (5,220 picograms per cubic metre on average, as It’s uncertain how long…