Max Kellerman, Oceanside Star, Thursday, February 04, 2010

Coal dust causes lung disease known as pneumoconiosis, which includes black lung disease, which usually occurs among coal miners. Environmental legislation regulates workplace air quality, but only in some jurisdictions.

However, nothing covers the trucking of coal and associated coal dust blown off while transported. There is a cancer risk associated with exposure to mineral dusts. Crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or christobalite is classified as carcinogenic to humans. Excessive mortality from lung and stomach cancer is well documented.

The planned coal transport consists of three 42-tonne trucks per hour using Highway 19 (Buckley Bay area) towards Qualicum Beach and may involve rail. The generated dust would cause a problem for vehicles and motorbikes, if the mine goes ahead, but especially for children and families whose houses are close to the railway tracks, if rail is used. Health and clean air are more important to us than the balance sheets of corporations which seem to have little consideration for the quality of our life. All of us should be consulting our elected officials before it is too late.

Max Kellermann
Qualicum Beach

© Oceanside Star 2010

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