Public Health Sudbury & Districts said residents of Falconbridge affected by dust fallout from the Glencore smelter earlier this week can resume normal activities, with a few added precautions.
A press release said that between Sept. 23 and 24, an estimated one cubic metre of dust was discharged from the Glencore, Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations Smelter in Falconbridge. Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) initiated an investigation as soon as they were notified.
Public Health received preliminary results of the composition of the dust from Glencore on Friday, said a Sept. 27 press release. Further analysis from MECP is pending, but since the dust is no longer being aerosolized and has been bound to soil or washed away, risk of inhalation is now minimal.
Drinking water has not been affected: surface water runoff is collected in designated storm sewers and treated at Glencore’s treatment plant before being discharged to Coniston Creek.
“Residents can now resume normal activities, taking simple precautions such as wearing a mask and gloves when cleaning dust, washing dust off skin, following gardening safety practices, and checking or replacing air filters in furnaces or air conditioners,” said Dr. Emily Groot, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
Public Health encourages the resumption of outdoor sporting and community events. Children and pets can resume playing in impacted areas, and community members can resume activities that may generate dust.
Public Health reminds community members to wash their hands after outdoor play or work. As this was a short and finite release, residents with home gardens or who may be volunteering at a community garden, are recommended to take the following steps:
Wear gloves when gardening or handling produce, which can act as an additional physical barrier from the dust.Practise hand hygiene by washing hands after gardening and prior to eating to avoid any dust ingestion.Ensure dust is not tracked into the home after harvesting produce. Gardening tools, clothes, and any items with excess dust should be washed with soap and water or left outside the home.Wash produce thoroughly using running water (PDF) or soap and water (PDF).Discard the outer layers of leafy produce, as dust may have accumulated in these areas. Peel root vegetables prior to consumption.
Residents are also encouraged to use this incident as an opportunity to change their furnace filter and turn their systems back on when ready to do so.
Public Health Sudbury & Districts will share further analysis of sample results once available.
Community members affected by this release can contact Glencore’s Community Line at 705-693-2761, ext. 3989 or by email at [email protected] for more information on the event.
For more information on the recommendations listed above, please call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705-522-9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1-866-522-9200).
Comments are closed.