Manitoba Health
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Health and Air Quality in Tilston, Manitoba
Position Statement of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
January 11, 2001
The conclusions stated here are based on the information presently available including input from residents and the community advisory group, air quality monitoring results, Dr. Kraut’s report and health and medical scientific literature.
The following represents an effort to reach fair and reasonable conclusions given the information and evidence available.
- Some symptoms reported by residents in the area have been
associated with exposure to hydrogen sulphide emissions.
- At this time there is no objective evidence of permanent health
effects due to past exposure; it is not expected that future
permanent health effects will ensue from previous exposures.
- If emissions of hydrogen sulphide are controlled to meet present
provincial guidelines for ambient levels, residents are not
expected to be at increased risk for long-term health effects or
permanent health problems.
- Some residents may sense odour and/or experience temporary
symptoms associated with exposure to hydrogen sulphide at levels
below provincial guidelines.
Based on these conclusions, the following recommendations are made:
- Action should be taken to ensure that all oil batteries in
Manitoba are operated in such a way as to maintain ambient levels
of hydrogen sulphide and any other potentially noxious or toxic
gases within provincial hourly guidelines.
- To minimize the occurrence of symptoms associated with exposure,
operators should be encouraged to keep emissions of hydrogen
sulphide and any other potentially noxious or toxic gases as low
as reasonably achievable.
- The Working Group on Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines, which reports to the National Advisory Committee (NAC) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), should be requested to consider the findings of Dr. Kraut’s report in its review of the national guidelines for maximum hydrogen sulphide ambient levels.
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