More tests needed
Well, he finally said it.
After months of saying there was nothing to worry about, Dr. Robert Kyle, the region’s medical officer of health, has confirmed what many have been saying for quite some time: the exceedance of dioxins and furans at the Durham York Energy Centre is a problem.
More specifically, Kyle says a build up of these toxins could lead to problems if it makes its way into the food supply. Remember, Health Canada has said that dioxins and furans can accumulate in the body, and a high enough exposure can lead to serious health issues.
It is good to see Kyle finally coming out and saying that there is a potential problem at the incinerator. Back in October, at the time of the first exceedance, Kyle said residents had nothing to worry about.
Well, based on the numbers – this being the second time the limit on dioxins and furans were exceeded, and this latest test coming in more than 13 times that limit – there is something here for people to worry about.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, along with the region, have given their blessing on Covanta’s plan to get the boiler responsible for this latest problem back up and running again.
While a report from HDR, the region’s engineering consultants, points to a couple of things that could have lead to this exceedance – a mattress clogging up the feed chute into boiler one, resulting in a shut down and subsequent cleaning, along with a brief carbon monoxide exceedance that lead to the boiler being taken offline temporarily – the true and undisputed cause of dioxins and furans coming in more than 13 times the contractually obligated limit is still uncertain.
But if HDR’s report is anything to go by, and those two incidents lead to such a high exceedance, then there is something to be concerned about. After all, these two events could very well happen again. A brief carbon monoxide spike or a large object clogging up the feed chute are not out of the ordinary occurrences
After all, it is us who is breathing in these compounds, and it is us that will eat food that could very well have it in it.
In an email chain obtained by The Oshawa Express, Kyle expressed his desire to see more stack tests done at the site. And with only two more tests to go – one to get the offending boiler back online and another in the fall – and with such high exceedances this early in the game, it only makes sense to keep a strong eye on the incinerator.