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Manitoba Health

Environmental Health

Heavy Metal Studies in Creighton and Flin Flon

September 2009

Manitoba Conservation, in partnership with Saskatchewan Environment, conducted surface soil testing in Flin Flon and Creighton in August 2006. Several elements, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper, thallium, selenium, zinc and mercury, were found to be above recommended soil quality guidelines at a number of sites. 

A preliminary health risk assessment estimated that the risk to human health is likely low, but that a more comprehensive assessment should be done.  A further human health risk assessment is underway and should be completed early in 2010.  To build on the work of this assessment, an exposure study measuring arsenic, lead and inorganic mercury in blood of children 15 years and younger is taking place in September and October 2009. The results of this study will also be available in early 2010.

What metals were found in Flin Flon and Creighton?

A total of 33 different soil metals and characteristics were measured in the soil in Creighton and Flin Flon as well as in soil at Bakers Narrows and Cranberry Portage.

Soil samples collected at certain locations in Flin Flon contained more arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, selenium, and thallium than recommended in Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the protection of human health.  In Creighton, levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were found to be above these guidelines in some of the test sites.

In general, the highest metal levels were recorded at sites in west Flin Flon (near and to the northeast of the smelter).  The highest metal levels in Creighton were found in the northeast part of town, south of the tailings facility.

How did these heavy metals come to be in Flin Flon and Creighton?

Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting has operated a base metal mining and smelting facility in Flin Flon since 1930.  The main sources of the metals are probably atmospheric emissions from the smelter smoke stack(s) as well as dust from the complex site and the tailings management area located north of Creighton.

What are the levels of metals in the soil in Flin Flon and Creighton?

The soil study determined that a number of sites in Flin Flon and Creighton exceeded the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for some metals. 

  • The highest metal levels were usually found on undeveloped land and boulevards.   
  • The highest levels were recorded at sites in Flin Flon – usually in the core area near the smelter and the northeast. 
  • Significant levels in Creighton were found in the northeast part of the community, south of the tailings management area. 
  • The metal levels decreased with distance away from the smelter.

Is my health at risk?

Based on the preliminary human health risk assessment, it has been estimated that health risks to area residents from the soil content are likely low.  Unless large amounts of soil were inhaled or swallowed, it is unlikely that measurable abnormal levels of these substances, diseases or injury would be detected in the body.

The human health risk assessment is considering all possible exposures and the probability that a resident could be exposed to enough amounts to produce negative health effects.   More information on human exposure to arsenic, lead and inorganic mercury is required to evaluate the risk from these metals. As children are more likely to be exposed to soil and more likely to show elevated levels if a risk was present, a study examining the levels of arsenic, lead and inorganic mercury in blood and urine samples of children 15 years and younger is underway. The results of this study - along with the comprehensive human health risk assessment - will provide a better understanding of health risk to the communities early in 2010.

It should be noted that a study assessing the overall health status of residents in Flin Flon and Creighton indicated that health status is generally as good, if not better, than provincial averages. Health is affected by a number of influences, including income and social status, education, employment, man-made and natural environments, health services, health behaviours and more.

arrow View the Community Health Status Assessment in Creighton and Flin Flon

 

What are the symptoms of heavy metal exposure?

The symptoms of heavy metal exposure can vary, depending on the type and duration of exposure. Most of the symptoms are not unique to heavy metal exposure.  In general, a person would have to have significant exposure to the soil (such as swallowing or inhaling large amounts of soil or dust over a period of time) before their health would be jeopardized.

The symptoms of significant exposure to heavy metals can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, easy bruising, pale skin colour and other skin changes and/or nerve symptoms (ex: “pins and needles” sensation or a gradual loss of feeling over time).  Any of these types of symptoms are more likely to be caused by common conditions such as a viral infection, a gastrointestinal illness, anemia (ex: from low blood iron) or diabetes.  In addition to these symptoms, significant exposure to some of these metals over time has been linked to other health effects, such as delayed brain development or increased risk of certain cancers.

How do heavy metals enter the body?

Elements such as these can enter our body through breathing, eating, drinking, or – to a lesser extent – having skin contact.  For some elements, such as cadmium, only five to 10 per cent of the cadmium ingested actually gets absorbed in the body. Virtually none of it gets absorbed through the skin.  For smokers, most of the cadmium in the body is from cigarette smoke, not from environmental exposures.

What about air exposure?  Is my water safe to drink?

Air levels of some metals are monitored at various locations in Flin Flon and Creighton.  The air quality in both communities has improved since the 1990s. However, outdoor air levels of some metals such as arsenic have sometimes exceeded air quality guidelines, especially in the "uptown" area of Flin Flon. Manitoba Conservation is working with the company to reduce these emissions. 

Elevated levels of heavy metals have not been identified in the drinking water

What about other substances in the air (other than metals)?

Sulphur dioxide and particulate matter in the air are monitored at various sites in Flin Flon and Creighton. Although the air quality has improved since the 1990s, there are still instances when the air quality guidelines are exceeded, especially in the "uptown" area of Flin Flon. Elevated levels of particulate matter can also be the result of forest fires or chimney smoke from residential wood-burning during certain weather conditions.

Increased levels of air pollutants have been shown to aggravate or lead to lung and heart conditions. Keeping the air quality within guideline levels is recommended.   When air quality guidelines are exceeded for sulphur dioxide, community alerts are issued and residents are asked to their reduce exposure to reduce the risk of health impacts.

Manitoba Conservation is working with the company to reduce emissions.  You can track current sulphur dioxide levels in outdoor air quality for Flin Flon and Creighton online.

Can my children play in playgrounds?  In our backyard?

Yes.  The preliminary health assessment indicates that the risk to human health is likely low.  However, parents and children are reminded to take usual precautions to reduce exposure to soil by encouraging children to keep their hands out of their mouths when playing outside and washing hands after outside activities.

We garden and pick wild fruits and vegetables in this area.  Are they safe to eat?

For area residents who keep gardens, a study completed by Manitoba Conservation in 2002 found that although some vegetables accumulated certain metals, the levels were below what would be considered harmful.  It is the same for wild fruits and vegetables.  Potential heavy metal exposure due to consuming local produce is being examined as part of the human health risk assessment currently underway.

Washing all garden produce and peeling root vegetables before cooking can reduce soil exposure.  If you are working in your yard or garden, hand washing or wearing garden gloves will reduce exposure.

Is it safe to eat any fish and/or wild game from around Flin Flon and Creighton?

Free ranging game animals and game birds in Manitoba are generally in good health and are usually safe for human consumption.  The human health risk assessment currently underway includes further testing of nearby lakes and hunting areas.  Based on the preliminary testing results, it is believed that the health risk to eating local fish and game is low.

If you have any questions about the safety of the fish or game from the Creighton/Flin Flon area, please talk to your local conservation officer.

Has anyone become ill as a result of being exposed to soil in Flin Flon and Creighton?

Most health conditions have multiple risk factors, including smoking, alcohol, diet and physical activity so it can be difficult to determine simple cause and effect. For example, arsenic has been linked to lung cancers, but it is estimated that about 90 per cent of lung cancers in Canada are related to tobacco smoke and other causes, including occupational exposure and air pollution.

Manitoba Health and Healthy Living and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health conducted a health assessment study looking at a number of health conditions in Flin Flon and Creighton and comparing those results to other areas of the provinces.

The findings from this study indicated that the health status in Flin Flon and Creighton is generally as good if not better than provincial averages. Manitoba and the Saskatchewan’s public health officials note that health is affected by a number of influences, including income and social status, education, employment, man-made and natural environments, health services, health behaviours and more. 

arrow View the Community Health Status Assessment in Creighton and Flin Flon

The human health risk assessment study and human exposure study currently underway will help answer questions about potential risks from exposures to metals in their environment.  Exposures to elevated levels of metals may increase the risk of some adverse outcomes.  However, these outcomes may be very uncommon in a small population.  Other factors that determine health may have a larger influence on health status. 

What is a human health risk assessment?

A human health risk assessment determines the potential for poor health outcomes due to environmental exposures. This scientific assessment is done to determine the potential, type and severity of health risks and will make recommendations as to what action, if any, should be taken. 

The assessment considers exposure to soil, water, air and food and uses mathematical models to calculate the potential health risk.  Other tools, such as routine health statistics, specific health surveys, and samples of blood, urine and hair can be used.

When will the complete human health risk assessment be finished?

The health risk assessment is underway and is expected to be completed in early 2010.

Intrinsk Environmental Sciences Inc., a consulting firm contracted to do the study has extensive experience in human health risk assessments.  Manitoba Conservation, Saskatchewan Environment, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Manitoba Health and Healthy Living, Health Canada and the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company are participating in a technical advisory committee which is guiding the risk assessment parameters.   A community advisory committee, made up of representatives from Creighton and Flin Flon, has been meeting to provide community input on the study.

Questions about the Exposure Study (Human Testing)

What is the exposure study?

During the course of the human health risk assessment, it was determined more information was needed to understand the exposure to arsenic, lead and inorganic mercury.  This exposure will be evaluated through voluntary biological samples (blood and urine) from children in the Flin Flon and Creighton area.

Why aren’t you collecting hair? Toenails?  Fingernails?

For the types of metals that are being considered at this point, blood and urine samples are considered the most appropriate types of samples for testing. 

Why are other metals not being considered?

More information was required on arsenic, lead and inorganic mercury to better complete the human health risk assessment.  It is felt there is enough information on the other metals, so additional studies were not needed.

Why is the exposure study only focusing on children?

If exposure is occurring among residents, it will be more noticeable in children. 

  • Children are generally more sensitive to environmental contaminants when compared with adults. 
  • When compared with adults, children are potentially exposed at higher levels because they eat, drink and breathe relatively more than adults when you take into account their body size.
  • Children’s normal activities, such as putting hands in their mouths or playing on the ground, create additional opportunities for exposures.

During the fall of 2009, the exposure study will collect information from volunteer children in Flin Flon and Creighton.

Will my child(ren) get to participate in the study?

The study team will be randomly selecting families to participate.  Approximately 400 children under the age of 15 from various neighbourhoods in Flin Flon and Creighton will be asked to participate by a mailed invitation.

Why did you choose the cut-off at age 15?

If exposure is occurring among residents, it will be more noticeable in children.  If the average exposure levels in children are not elevated, it would be very unlikely for other age groups to have elevated levels.

Who is leading the bio-testing?

The bio-testing (evaluation of exposure) is being led by Dr. Murray Lee (Habitat Health Impact Assessment), in partnership with Intrinsik, Goss Gilroy, and EOHP. These organizations have been selected due to their experience in human health (medicine and epidemiology), toxicology and large-scale field studies.

Like the human health risk assessment study, the human exposure study is overseen by the technical advisory committee and the community advisory committee.

Who do I contact about participating in the study?

The study will contact a sample of households in the community to recruit participants. It is also possible for households not included in the sample to participate in the study and have their children tested for these metals. Please contact the study team manager at 204-271-3792.

When will the testing begin?

The study team will start contacting families to recruit participants in September 2009.

When will results be returned?

Individual results will be provided to participating families in early winter and community level results will be presented in early 2010.

What if those results come back high?

The families of all participants will receive their child(ren)’s results and a copy will be sent to their personal physician. If individuals get results that need follow-up, the principal investigator physician will work with the local physician to make sure this takes place. Participants who require follow-up but do not have a family physician will be referred to one.

If a child does have an elevated result, public health officials will work with the physician to help determine the source of the metal exposures.  Diet, lead paint exposure and other factors may all contribute to elevated levels. 

How will bio-testing inform the human health risk assessment?

The human health risk assessment is developing models of estimated exposure. This study information will be used to determine how accurate the soil study models are to ensure that next steps are properly informed.

How can I reduce my exposure to metals in soil?

The preliminary assessment information indicates that the risk to human health is likely low.  However, these precautionary measures can be taken to reduce exposure to soil:

  • Wash your hands after outside activities, such as playing and gardening, before handling and eating food, or smoking.
  • Wear gloves when working outside.
  • Wear certain clothing only for outdoor play, work and gardening, and remove that clothing when going inside.
  • Keep children’s toys, play areas and surfaces clean.
  • Clean stroller and bike wheels to avoid tracking soil indoors.
  • Remind children to keep their hands out of their mouths when playing outside.
  • Remove shoes and boots at the door.
  • Wet-mop/wet-wipe when dusting where possible (vacuuming and sweeping can raise dust levels).
  • Clean heat ducts and furnace filters regularly.
  • Brush and/or wash pets often and outdoors, removing dirt before they enter the home.
  • Wash all locally-grown produce with soap and water and peel root crops (carrots, potatoes, turnips, etc.) before eating or cooking.

I think I have been exposed to heavy metals.  What should I do?

If you have concerns about heavy metal exposure, discuss this with your family doctor.

If this plant has been in operation since the 1930s, why are the tests just being done now?

There have been several studies conducted in the Flin Flon area since environmental monitoring began in the 1970s.  Manitoba Conservation studied the lead levels in boulevard soils in 1983.  The University of Winnipeg and Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting conducted garden studies in 1990s and Manitoba Conservation completed a garden study in 2002.

These studies suggested that levels of metals and other elements might be elevated in Creighton and Flin Flon. Manitoba Conservation decided this required further investigation and designed a systematic soil survey for the area.

The soil study was conducted with three principle objectives:

  • determine the concentrations of metals and other elements in surface soil in Flin Flon, Creighton and area;
  • map the distribution of metals and other elements; and
  • provide a preliminary assessment of the results by comparing the area concentration data to existing, national environmental quality guidelines.

The soil study was released in July 2007.  

How many sites were sampled in the Manitoba Conservation survey?

There were 93 test sites in Flin Flon and 13 test sites in Creighton.  Sample sites included public lands including boulevards, parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, vacant lots and other undeveloped lands within each community. Further samples have been taken from the front and back yards at various locations in Creighton and Flin Flon during the fall of 2007 as part of the human health risk assessment.

As a Flin Flon/Creighton resident, should I get my property tested for heavy metal levels?

In October 2007, soils were sampled at 200 residential properties from all areas of Flin Flon and Creighton to provide data for the human health risk assessment currently underway.  No further soil sampling and analyses are being considered at this time.  The human health risk assessment is expected to determine if any more testing should be done.  For more information about the soil testing that has been done to date, please contact Manitoba Conservation or Saskatchewan Environment.

What are the levels of metals in the soil at other communities with a smelter?

In Falconbridge, Ontario, levels of arsenic in the soil were much higher than in Flin Flon. A comprehensive study testing the urine of residents of Falconbridge was done to determine their exposure to arsenic and it was found that there was no difference in urinary arsenic between Falconbridge residents and residents of a community with no smelter plant.  This arsenic level was also well below the national guidelines.

What are the plans to improve soils in the Flin Flon area?

In August 2008, the Manitoba government announced a program for soil improvement at 10 Flin Flon parks/playgrounds which had tested high for metals. This early work is a precautionary measure to protect young children using the parks. Two of the park projects began in the fall of 2008 and were completed in the summer of 2009.  Soil enhancements and other park improvements continued at the remaining eight sites in 2009. Other programs such as the Flin Flon Green Project are improving the soils and natural ecosystems in the Flin Flon area. Government support to this program is continuing.

Once the comprehensive human health risk assessment is complete, further actions will be considered by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting, the communities of Flin Flon and Creighton, as well as the involved government departments from both Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  The human health risk assessment is expected to be complete in early 2010.

Links

arrow For Your Health Fact Sheet:  Heavy Metal Soil Study in Creighton and Flin Flon PDF

arrow Manitoba Conservation: July 2007 Soil Metals – Full Report PDF

arrow Manitoba Conservation: July 2007 Soil Metals – Summary of Report PDF

arrow Community Health Status Assessment in Creighton and Flin Flon

arrow Manitoba Government News Release:
“FLIN FLON PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS TO BE IMPROVED: PREMIER”

arrow Manitoba Health & Healthy Living: Environmental Health

arrow Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health

arrow Flin Flon Soils Human Health Risk Assessment website

arrow Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting

To reach staff and for general inquiries:

Office of the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer
4th Floor – 300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB  R3B 3M9
ph. (204) 788-6666
fax (204) 948-2204