The chief caquiste, François Legault, has minimized the health risks linked to arsenic emissions by the Horne foundry in Rouyn-Noranda.
Before hitting the road to Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mr. Legault reacted to criticism from doctors who accused him of having told Everybody talks about it that the situation was safe on Sunday.
“It depends on the definition of security,” he said in a radio interview with 98.5 FM. I invite everyone in Rouyn-Noranda to read the Public Health report. It’s not as dramatic as some say. »
The government of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) wants to limit the concentration in the air of arsenic emitted by the Horne smelter to 15 ng/m³ within 5 years, while the provincial standard is 3 ng/m³. The company had previously obtained permission to emit a maximum of 100 ng/m³.
In July, a report by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) concluded that, over a period of 70 years, between one and fourteen more residents of Rouyn-Noranda would develop cancer if the Glencore company does not reduce arsenic discharges from the Horne smelter.
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