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LATEST NEWS
April 30, 2008
More says committee fighting 'global battle'
by Shelby Parker, Northumberland Today
One day before Mayor Linda Thompson asked residents to end the uranium dangers debate, the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee was speaking in Ottawa about why they will never be silenced."It's not a Port Hope battle, it's a global battle," said Faye More, chairperson of the health concerns committee.The committee was invited by the Physicians for Global Survival to the April 21 press conference in Ottawa, to speak on issues in Port Hope."We were on their radar screen, as Port Hope has been on the radar screen for a number of years," Ms. More said.The health concerns committee has maintained there are health risks from uranium in the environment in Port Hope, despite assurances by Health Canada."We are saying, 'Why are they telling us that the levels of uranium in our bodies, including our children's bodies, is OK? . . . Why isn't it being treated as a health danger?'"
Ms. More asked.
Read more
Health Canada hypocrisy
Letter to the Editor, Northumberland News
April 29, 2008
To the Editor:
The Northumberland News article 'Health Concerns Committee proud of its work' (April 25) does not clearly reflect the points I was making regarding application of the Precautionary Principle to human exposures to uranium in Port Hope and elsewhere.The people of Port Hope and indeed, Canada, should have the benefit of the Precautionary Principle approach to regulating uranium exposures, the approach which the federal Minister of Health Tony Clement announced last week is being applied to the substance bisphenol A. Many people across Canada and other countries have been pressing this case for years.
The bisphenol A announcement is being heralded by many as an unusually strong, leadership position for the Canadian government to take on a toxic substance and the Minister is quoted as saying it is "better to be safe than sorry."
Monday April 21, 2008
Read more
April 24, 2008
Health concerns committee proud of its work
Jeanne Beneteau, Northumberland News
.......“What would the mayor have people do? Brush all the realities aside and bring out the pom-poms?” she said. “We are not a Stepford community of robots. We live in a democracy and have a responsibility to follow up on uranium health issues.”
Read more
April 24, 2008
Port Hope battling negative publicity
Jeanne Beneteau, Northumberland News
Damage control is ramping up to high gear as Port Hope prepares to adopt aggressive action plans to counter misleading community health information released Canada-wide by special interest groups. At the April 22 council meeting, Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson said “enough is enough,” referring to last November’s joint Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC)/Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC) media event regarding “unsubstantiated” claims of uranium in the urine of Port Hope residents.
Read more
Apply Health Canada’s “Better Safe Than Sorry” Approach to Uranium Exposure
Statement to be Presented By the Committee at the Media Conference Sheraton Hotel in Ottawa - Sponsored By Physicians for Global Survival
“ We believe that the current safety margin needs to be higher. We have
concluded that it is better to be safe than sorry.”
- The Honourable Tony Clement, Globe and Mail, April 19, 2008
Photos Copyright 2008 Garth Gullekson
Health Canada has taken an international lead with this precautionary position with respect to listing the synthetic chemical bisphenol A as a toxic substance and banning the use of polycarbonate baby bottles. Why is Health Canada telling Port Hope and Canadians that industrial uranium, inhaled and incorporated into our bodies, is good news??
The United States Government Has Acknowledged in Law Harm from Uranium Exposure to Military Personnel, Atomic Workers and Community Downwinders
Read more
April 11, 2008
Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee's Comment Re: Cameco Corporation - Proposed Port Hope Conversion Facility Vision 2010 Project. CEAA Registry # 06-03-22672
by Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, Comment to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Click here to download the PHCHCC's entire comment.
April, 11 2008
The World Health Organisation And Nuclear
Alison Katz, Le Monde diplomatique
In June 2007 Gregory Hartl, World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesman for Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, claimed that the proceedings of the international conference held in Geneva in 1995 on the health consequences of the Chernobyl disaster had been duly published (1). This was not so. And the proceedings of the Kiev conference in 2001 have never been published either. Challenged by journalists a few months later, the WHO repeated the claim, providing references to a collection of abstracts for the Kiev conference and just 12 articles (out of hundreds) submitted to the Geneva conference.
Since 26 April 2007 (the 21st anniversary of Chernobyl), a large placard has informed WHO employees each day that one million children in the area around Chernobyl are irradiated and ill. Independent WHO, the group organising the action, accuses the WHO of a cover-up of the health consequences of the catastrophe, and of failing to assist populations in danger.
Read more
Piecing together the nuclear puzzlerkeeper.ca Weekly: M
On Saturday, March 29, 2008,
An engaged crowd gathered at the Port Hope High School for a lecture and fund raising event co-sponsored by the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. The keynote speaker, Dr. Jim Harding, presented "Uranium: Anything but Clean and Green," drawing from his most recent book Canada's Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan uranium and the Global Nuclear System as well as years of experience and activism in the socio-health, environment, and public policy fields. It was was a lively, informative, and inspiring event. Read more
Listen to Dr. Harding's presentation,
"Uranium: Anything but Clean and Green"
Listen to an interview with Dr. Harding on this week's
Living At the Barricades Podcast.
"The Walrus" Magazine - March 2008 Issue
"Nuclear Reaction"
Accusations of cancerous fallout divide a small Ontario town
Kate Harries
.... The juncture of the Ganaraska River and Lake Ontario is rich in trout and salmon. When the fish return each fall to their spawning grounds, they must run a gauntlet of anglers on both sides of the river — all in the shadow of a nuclear refinery. Owned by Cameco, the world’s largest uranium producer, the plant stands in the middle of the town’s waterfront, minutes from busy Walton Street. It’s the first thing commuters see when they step off the train, and it looms over the harbour’s inner basin, by the yacht club. If a new nuclear facility were proposed for this setting, a buffer zone of at least 1,000 metres would be required as a precaution, and to protect neighbours from the heaviest emissions.
Read entire article
Mon Dec 10, 2007
Voice of 'silent majority' to be heard in the House
Joyce Cassin, Northumberland Today
With close to 3,500 signed public statements in hand, Citizens for Port Hope (CFPH) chair Blake Holton said that the silent majority of Port Hope has spoken. According to StatsCan, more than one half of the electorate who turned up to vote in the last municipal election in Port Hope signed these statements, showing that they can speak for themselves, and don't need people such as Faye More of the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) to speak for them, says Mr. Holton. "The people who signed the public statement are saying that (the PHCHCC doesn't) speak on behalf of the entire community," Mr. Holton said in a press conference held at the Port Hope Town Hall on Friday, December 7.
Read more
Fri, Dec 7, 2007
Citizens giving MP petition today
Karen Lloyd , Northumberland Today
A group newly formed to promote the health and welfare of Port Hope has invited local MP Rick Norlock to receive today a petition signed by more than 3,000 local residents, which he will officially table in Parliament. The Citizens for Port Hope formed after the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee and Uranium Medical Research Centre announced uranium contamination had been found in nine Port Hope residents subjected to contaminated soils and former Eldorado, Cameco, and/or Zircatec workers; the group held a rally November 21 to gather signatures on the petition in a show of civic pride.
Read more
Weds, Dec 5, 2007
Developer may act against activist groups
Karen Lloyd , Northumberland Today
Port Hope's Penryn Village developer says he may take legal action against the two community activist groups he believes may have put his $25-million investment in jeopardy. "We're going to review the situation in great detail," says AON Inc. president Ross Smith, who is currently building 1,200 homes in Port Hope's west end along Lakeshore Road. Last month, with some financial help from Families Against Radiation Exposure (FARE), Port Hope's Community Health Concerns Committee released results of a health study that suggested members of the community were at risk due to long-term uranium contamination from two local nuclear industries. Conducted by the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC), the study found uranium in the urine of four out of nine Port Hope residents tested. A summary of the study was released November 13 at a press conference in Toronto, making national headlines."I just find it pathetic," Mr. Smith said, adding he's shocked the two groups would "put out misinformation to damage their own community."
Read more
Weds, Dec 5, 2007
Study findings suppressed: health concerns committee
Joyce Cassin, Northumberland Today
Although a Health Canada official told Port Hope council November 20 that a study conducted by the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC) was no cause for concern, and the findings are typical of uranium levels in anyone in Canada, the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee claims Dr. Jack Cornett suppressed findings of the study revealing human uranium contamination in the town. "The position of Health Canada stated by Dr. Cornett is inaccurate and irresponsible," stated chair and Port Hope resident Faye More in a press release issued by the committee. "Instead of investigating Port Hope's contamination, Health Canada is trying to dismiss the important findings by saying everyone in Canada has these radioactive materials in their bodies. Once again, we see Health Canada's unwillingness to deal with our realities and fully investigate possible health impacts of 75 years of exposure to nuclear contaminants in Port Hope."
Read moreTues, Dec 4, 2007
Group voices concerns of uranium in Ottawa
Jeanne Beneteau, Northumberland News
OTTAWA - A local health committee spokeswoman is appealing to Parliament "to do the right thing" and conduct comprehensive health studies on Port Hope residents. At a Dec. 5 press conference held in Ottawa, NDP Environment Critic Nathan Cullen joined Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) chairwoman Faye More and Tedd Weyman, of the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC), to question what they call Health Canada's denials of the health risks of uranium contamination in Port Hope residents. In mid-November, the PHCHCC released a urine sample test result report authored by the UMRC that showed uranium contamination in a small group (nine) of Port Hope residents. In response to the findings, Health Canada's Radiation Protection Bureau Director Dr. Jack Cornett appeared at Port Hope council on Nov. 20. Dr. Cornett said all uranium concentrations reported in the UMRC study fell well below regulatory levels, were typical of levels found in people in every Canadian community and would not cause any adverse health effects. However Mr. Cullen said Health Canada has consistently ignored the evidence that is available and has allowed the ongoing contamination of the town. "The needs of ordinary Canadians are being ignored in favour of corporate profits," stated Mr. Cullen, in a press release. "We need to show leadership as the elected representatives of this country to ensure that the health of working people and of communities comes first. Health Canada should not be ignoring peer-reviewed studies nor give a false sense of security when real questions of safety exist."
Read more
Tues, Dec 4, 2007
NDP critic jumps on uranium bandwagon
Joyce Cassin, Northumberland Today
The Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee is not done with its fight to have recent study results taken seriously. According to a press release issued Monday, workers and residents of Port Hope are being put at risk due to chronic, long-term uranium contamination from two refineries in the heart of their community, as per the study by the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC), which found levels of uranium in the urine of four of nine Port Hope residents. A summary of the study results, released at a press conference November 13 in Toronto, made national headlines and sparked strong and vehement reaction in Port Hope, where residents questioned the methodology, timing and manner of the release of information and feared public misperceptions about the community.
Read more
Tue, Dec 4, 2007
Besmirched, bothered, bewildered
Editorial - Northumberland Today
One could hardly recognize the Port Hope in evidence over the past weekend as the same community that has been smeared, besmirched and repeatedly bashed by some of its own residents over the past few weeks. As the annual Santa Claus parade (one of the biggest and best we can ever remember in the community) took to the streets, following the Candlelight Walk and the lighting of Memorial Park, as well as the delightful new tradition of the Capitol Christmas, the sick image painted of the town was nowhere in evidence.As it it weren't damaging enough to hold a press conference on a health study that purports to show the health of the community is endangered by the local nuclear industry - without producing the study - the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee chose to release its findings in Toronto, rather than here where any affected people live. That says a lot.
Read more
NDP Website - Dec. 03, 2007
HEALTH CANADA IGNORES URANIUM CONTAMINATION
NDP MP Nathan Cullen promises to take up their cause in Parliament
“Once again, the needs of ordinary Canadians are being ignored in favour of corporate profits,” said Cullen. “We need to show leadership as the elected representatives of this country to ensure that the health of working people and of communities comes first. Health Canada should not be ignoring peer reviewed studies, nor give a false sense of security when real questions of safety exist.”
Read more
Mon. Dec. 03, 2007
Health Canada suppresses study findings:
“top radiation scientist” says Port Hope’s uranium contamination “typical of…Canadians”
by Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee,
Uranium Medical Research Centre
At a November 19, 2007 town council meeting in Port Hope, Ontario, Dr. Jack Cornett, Director of Radiation Protection, Health Canada, suppressed findings of an independent study revealing human uranium contamination in the town. Dr. Cornett, according to local press, is Canada’s “top radiation scientist”. He told the town they had nothing to worry about as the study’s findings showing contamination are “typical of ... Canadians”. Faye More, Chair of the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, a volunteer local organization, said, “The position of Health Canada stated by Dr Cornett is inaccurate and irresponsible. Instead of investigating Port Hope’s contamination, Health Canada is trying to dismiss the important findings by saying everyone in Canada has these radioactive materials in their bodies. Once again, we see Health Canada’s unwillingness to deal with our realities and fully investigate possible health impacts of 75 years of exposure to nuclear contaminants in Port Hope,” More says.
Read more
Mon. Dec. 03, 2007
Port Hope demands action on uranium contamination
Norma Greenaway, CanWest News Service, National Post
OTTAWA -- Backed by the federal NDP, the head of a citizen's group made an impassioned plea Monday for Health Canada to launch comprehensive tests on residents of the Ontario community of Port Hope who are suffering from "long-term uranium contamination."Faye More, a spokeswoman for the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, accused successive federal governments of ignoring repeated requests from the community to properly evaluate the uranium contamination from two refineries in the heart of the town.
Read more
Mon. Dec. 03, 2007
Backlash: The risks of speaking out
Waterkeeper.ca Weekly:
The backlash came fast and furious after grassroots groups released details of uranium contamination in human test subjects from Port Hope, Ontario in November. Private citizens, pundits and government officials condemned their neighbours for voicing concerns about uranium pollution.Scientists and community organizers were labelled, "small, but loud, self-interest groups" They were accused of using, "terrorist tactics," and being, "willing to do whatever they have to get attention, regardless of the cost to the community." Even the local MP had harsh words, criticizing the groups for bringing, "needless, negative attention" to the town.
In the immediate aftermath of the November press conference, a reported 3,000 residents and Port Hope merchants took to the streets to "save Port Hope." Business owners and government officials dominated newspapers and television news broadcasts.
Whether calculated or merely coincidental, their collective response followed a pattern that Waterkeeper has seen in dozens of communities facing environmental concerns.
Read more
From our archives - Broken Record, Broken Promises...
Dec 17, 1999
Port Hope licence renewed; residents to be tested for radiation damage.
by Peter Calamai, Toronto Star
OTTAWA - After 30 years of pleading, residents of Port Hope are finally going to be tested for radiation
damage from the uranium refinery in their midst.
The price they have to pay is continued pollution from the Cameco Corp. plant, which yesterday received official
approval for two more years' operation from the Atomic Energy Control Board, the federal nuclear safety watchdog.
Board experts told a public hearing here that uranium contamination of the soil in the Lake Ontario community
continues to rise as the refinery's smokestack daily rains down radioactive dust.
Read moreFri Nov 23, 2007
Interesting 10 days in Port Hope
Editorial - Northumberland New
So where do we go from here?
Health Canada has said Port Hope residents show normal levels of uranium in their system.
The Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) — and by association, Families Against Radiation Exposure (FARE) — has had its Nov. 13 national media blitz backfire, outraging members of the Port Hope community to the point where the Citizens for Port Hope (CFPH) was formed and on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, 2,500 people signed a petition telling the groups to back off.
Read more
Thurs Nov 22, 2007
Cameco says residents safe
Northumberland Today
Cameco Corp. decided to clear the air for the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce board and Heritage Business Improvement Area executive members on results of a recent study of uranium contamination in a few municipal residents.The company, which operates the processing plant in Port Hope, said at a meeting Tuesday night that local residents should not be concerned with the information released November 13 by the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, with the help of the Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC), as the amount of uranium in the urine of study subjects is consistent with normal background levels. The same message was delivered to Port Hope council Tuesday night by Jack Cornett, Health Canada's director of radiation.The testing is said to have detected uranium from both natural and man-made sources in four of the nine people tested."The measurements of the nine people tested fell within the range typical of what you'd find in Canada, the U.S. and other countries," said Dr. Cornett. "They are extremely low levels and well below any regulatory limits."
Read more
Thurs Nov 22, 2007
Petition can be signed
Northumberland Today
Port Hope citizens not among the estimated 3,000 who signed a petition Wednesday telling the the world they can speak for themselves, may be heard. The Citizen for Port Hope petition can still be signed and is available at various locations throughout the municipality.
Read more
Wed Nov 21, 2007
Health Canada gives council the all clear
By Jeanne Beneteau, Northumberland News
PORT HOPE - Uranium levels in the bodies of Port Hope residents are typical of levels found in people in every Canadian community, a senior federal government health official told Port Hope council Tuesday night.
Read more
Wed Nov 21, 2007
Public meeting on study axed as 'feelings are running high'
Northumberland Today
Fearing for their safety, scientists with Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC) will not be meeting with the public in Port Hope this week regarding a recently released summary of a radio-biological study.Explaining the cancellation, Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee chair Faye More said Tuesday there has been a steady escalation of intimidation, harassment and false allegations towards the study organizers, sponsors, patients and supporters since UMRC released information last week that some Port Hope residents tested had elevated levels of uranium in their urine. The story was reported by national press and sparked strong and vehement public reaction. "The current climate in Port Hope is not conducive to bringing people together this week," said Ms. More. "When feelings are running so high, this is not the time to be talking science and medicine."
Read more
Tue Nov 20, 2007
Community health is the goal of committee
By Jeanne Beneteau, Northumberland News
PORT HOPE - For the past 12 years, requests to federal authorities for independent, comprehensive health studies and broad based biological testing for Port Hope residents have fallen on deaf ears, says the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) chairwoman.At a Nov. 13 news conference in Toronto, the PHCHCC announced recent urine sample testing found commercial and industrially-sourced uranium contamination in the bodies of a handful of Port Hope residents. Chairwoman Faye More says she hopes Health Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will take a hard, long look at the study findings and finally put the health of Port Hope residents at the top of the agenda, "where it should be."
Read more
Tue Nov 20, 2007
Uranium contamination public meeting cancelled
By Jeanne Beneteau, Northumberland News
PORT HOPE - Hostile backlash on the heels of a report on uranium contamination in Port Hope residents has prompted the study's author to opt out of a local public information meeting.Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC) deputy director Tedd Weyman says harassment and threats of bodily harm both over the phone and by e-mail has forced him and his associates to back out of a public information session slated for Thursday, Nov. 22, at the Port Hope Lion's Recreation Centre. Faye More, chairwoman of the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC), who contracted UMRC to conduct the study, says the meeting will be rescheduled when the appropriate experts are available."We (UMRC) don't want to be a part of that (exposing itself to harm)," says Mr. Weyman. "Let Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) sort this out."
Read more
Mon. Nov. 19, 2007
FARE president resigns
The president of Families Against Radioactive Exposure (FARE) has resigned his position.
By Jennifer O'Meara, Northumberland News
"FARE continues to do important work for the people of Port Hope," John Miller wrote in an open letter. "But the organization cannot allow the actions of any individual member to compromise it. Unfortunately, that happened this past week." On November 13, an announcement in by the Toronto-based Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC) and Port Hope Health Concerns Committee that a study of nine Port Hope residents showed some level of uranium contamination has sparked strong public reaction in the municipality. "The hostile reaction of a portion of our community to the events of the past few days has been directed largely against FARE. This reaction is misdirected.
Read more
Mon. Nov. 19, 2007
How the media fell for Port Hope nuke tests
By Connie Woodcock, Toronto Sun
It's so easy to write big, black, scary headlines. Ask any copy editor.
But sometimes you need to look past the headline and decide for yourself whether big, black and scary were really necessary. That's what came to my mind this week when I read the story on a study showing uranium contamination being in the urine of nine residents of the beautiful little town of Port Hope. The Globe and Mail headline read: "Town's residents test positive for uranium contamination." The Halifax Chronicle Herald said: "Study finds radioactivity in residents." "Radiation levels should prompt federal study, expert says," said the Toronto Star. By the time you read the headlines, you'd have had the impression that all 16,000 Port Hopers glow in the dark. You'd be wrong. Way wrong. But that's the way it always goes in Port Hope. I lived there for 16 years and watched wave after wave of nuclear fear-mongering break over the town. I'm still waiting to find out if any of it is justified.
Read moreMon. Nov. 19, 2007
Port Hopers to rally for rebuild reputation Wednesday
By Mandy Martin/Lisa Bailey Northumberlandtoday.com
A rally is being organized to "rebuild the reputation" of the town in downtown Port Hope Wednesday.
According to Blake Holton, a member of the Heritage Business Improvement Association, the event will take place from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 21 at 17 Ontario St.. It is hoped hundreds of citizens will attend. "Sign the petition telling FARE (Families Against Nuclear Exposure) that as a member of the silent majority, you want your voice back. Together we can rebuild the reputation of this wonderful town," Mr. Holton stated in the letter to the Port Hope Evening Guide. Last Tuesday, the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, with the help of the Uranium Medical Research Centre, released a summary of a study indicating four of nine Port Hope people sampled tested for elevated levels of uranium in their urine. The story hit national press. The claims of the Health Concerns Committee report have been strongly refuted by Health Canada, and the nuclear fuel processing company in Port Hope, Cameco.
There has also been strong and vehement public reaction against both the health committee and FARE from the local population.
Fri. Nov. 16/2007
Uranium, cesium and plutonium all naturally occur in every human, Mr. Kelly notes.
by Northumberlandtoday.com
"So, the issue is not if they have uranium in their system, but how much. These levels (in the health committee report) are almost undetectable. You would find more (uranium level) in a back yard anywhere." The fact depleted uranium was indicated in one test result is no surprise, Mr. Prendergast said. "We are licensed to work with depleted uranium metal and depleted uranium oxide. In U236, small amounts (of depleted uranium) can be found, but that does not indicate it has come from a reactor or nuclear weapons. It doesn't. "Cameco has an agreement with the Russian government. When they download former nuclear weapons, Cameco purchases the UF6 content (for reprocessing) - but that never comes to Canada or Port Hope."
Read more
Fri. Nov. 16/2007
Study's numbers meaningless without context: Cameco
by Mandy Martin Northumberlandtoday.com
Where is the study? Government, agencies and individuals are asking for copies of the study the Port Hope Community Health Committee cited Tuesday at a Toronto press conference. The committee said their study indicates four of nine Port Hope people sampled tested for elevated levels of uranium in their urine."Last night, the response from the Port Hope Community Health Committee was the study is the Power Point presentation posted on their website," Bob Kelly, Cameco's director of public and government affairs, said Thursday.Further, requests for the peer review findings of the study's findings "to determine if it's good science, will not be available until after a public meeting November 22," Mr. Kelly was told.Thus far, Mr. Kelly says, the poster of the health committee's Tuesday media conference plus the summary of the study's findings outlined in a Power Point presentation, are all anyone can review.Will Cameco be attending the health committee's public meeting in Port Hope?
Read moreFri. Nov. 16/2007
Health Canada says no health concerns in Port Hope
By Jeanne Beneteau Northumberland News Online
PORT HOPE - Late Wednesday afternoon, federal health officials told Port Hope’s mayor there are no health concerns regarding uranium levels in local residents reported by a citizen-based health concerns committee earlier this week. On Nov. 14, Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson said Health Canada representatives advised the municipality the levels of uranium contamination reported in the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) ‘Radio-Biological Study Findings for Port Hope’ released at a Toronto press conference Nov. 13 do not represent a concern to health. At the press conference, the PHCHCC released urine sample test results that pointed to the presence of radioactive contamination in a small group (nine) of Port Hope residents. The summary report, put together by the Toronto-based Uranium Medical Research Centre (UMRC), stated chronic, long-term uranium contamination was found in the bodies of three Port Hope residents, former nuclear industry workers.
Read more
Fri. Nov. 16/2007
Press conference shows lack of respect
By Dwight Irwin Northumberland News Online
Right off the top, I want to say that if residents of Port Hope are being contaminated by Cameco’s emissions, then corrective actions must be taken by Health Canada. But I am still incensed about the way the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee (PHCHCC) released its study findings, which said four of nine people tested have uranium (that Cameco denies processing), in their urine, on Tuesday morning. I’m upset because the group chose to hold a press conference in Toronto, away from Port Hope residents like myself, the media, and proper questions.
Read More
Thurs. Nov. 15/ 2007
National media attention required to get attention of government, others: More
by Joyce Cassin, Northumberlandtoday.com,
National media attention was required to get the attention of governments, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and others, says Faye More about the release this week of information that some people in Port Hope are contaminated with uranium.Ms. More, chair of the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, said local media were inadvertently shunned in the process.She told The Guide Wednesday that time was of the essence, and she thought the quickest way to get the information out on a press conference to all media outlets was "over the wire". Unfortunately local print media did not receive the notice sent out last Thursday for a Tuesday morning press conference to take place in Toronto. Northumberland Publishers generates all news locally and does not subscribe to wire services. "It was miscommunication and a misunderstanding as to how it would reach everyone," Ms. More said. "I sent it out by a means I thought would get it out most quickly."
"It was, for us, very important to do this in Toronto," she said.
Read MoreThurs. Nov. 15/2007
Action wanted on soil cleanup
by Joyce Cassin, Northumberlandtoday.com
Approximately 3.5 million cubic metres of radioactive and heavy metal waste remain within the boundaries of the Municipality of Port Hope at numerous sites, awaiting proper long-term storage, which is a cause of concern for Faye More, chair of the Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee, and she wants some action. Glenn Case, manager of engineering and operations for Atomic Energy of Canada, said if every piece of contaminated soil in Port Hope were to be cleaned up, there would be 3.5 million cubic metres, but a cleanup of only 1.5 million is required to meet the highest national standards.
Read More
Oct. 5/ 2007
Contamination may extend beyond Cameco fence line;
Company says municipality notified as 'trace amounts' of uranium, arsenic found south of plant
by Joyce Cassin, Northumberland News Online
Contamination from Cameco's uranium conversion plant in Port Hope may be present beyond the company's property line, an official says. Test results received Wednesday reveal slightly elevated levels of uranium and arsenic at a location eight metres inside the fence line south of Cameco's uranium hexafluoride (UF6) production building. "The contamination may have moved beyond the property line to Marsh Street," said Bob Kelly, director of public and government affairs. "We have already notified the municipality as this is their property." He noted only "trace amounts" were found when testing was done from a new well bored between two existing wells on the building's south side. "We have an obligation to the community to inform them of any changes," said Mr. Kelly. "This is the first indication there may be offsite migration. "There was no previous evidence that the contamination was moving off, but that "may not be the case any more," he added.
Read moreSept. 24, 2007
Questions Provided by The Port Hope Community Health Concerns Committee
to The Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Office (LLRWMO)
for Discussion at a Public Meeting Scheduled for June 21, 2007
READ MORE