Plastics plant benzene removal leads First Nation to suggest some residents evacuate

Aamjiwnaang First Nation issued nan precautionary removal announcement for prime areas adjacent nan plant’s obstruction statement successful beforehand of nan activity underway this week to remove benzene from nan INEOS Styrosolution site.

The First Nation says nan removal was expected to consequence successful immoderate increased benzene levels until Saturday and monitors were group up astir nan organization to support tabs connected emissions.

The styrene plant was unopen down successful April aft a monolithic spike successful cancer-causing benzene levels was picked up and nan First Nation reported immoderate residents had fallen ill, prompting nan organization to state a authorities of emergency.

The institution has since announced plans to permanently adjacent by 2026 and says it has been mandated to remove benzene from nan tract by Oct. 16.

It says nan government-mandated removal scheme whitethorn consequence successful elevated benzene emissions, but they are expected to beryllium “localized adjacent nan tract bound and are not expected to origin adverse effects to nan section population.”

The First Nation says respective of its offices, including nan set office, will beryllium closed until Friday successful anticipation of the benzene removal and unit would beryllium moving from home.

Benzene can origin neurological symptoms specified arsenic dizziness and headaches pursuing short-term exposures, and tin origin cancers specified arsenic leukemia aft semipermanent exposures.

It is simply a clear, mostly colourless liquid that is portion of nan constitution of crude oil. It’s utilized to make styrene, a lightweight integrative utilized successful items specified arsenic car parts, nutrient containers and toys.

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault described nan removal arsenic precautionary and said nan authorities was moving pinch nan First Nation.

“We will proceed to activity pinch them to show nan business and to intervene again, if request be, regarding this institution aliases different companies,” he said Wednesday.

The national and provincial governments some moved to bring successful much stringent rules astatine the plant earlier this twelvemonth aft repeated concerns astir elevated benzene levels.