Asbestos News

The proposed burning of buildings at an old uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, has those who live in the area concerned about the potential release of asbestos.

The Saskatchewan Research Council had planned to demolish buildings at the old Gunnar Mine site near Uranium City by burning them down, but Metis and First Nations people in the region said such an action would release asbestos into the air, reports the Winnipeg Free Press. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause a number of deadly diseases such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis.

"We've got Metis here and we've got First Nations in the community here that are really concerned," local resident Wayne Augier told the news source. "We've got elders that are living here that are concerned."

Council spokesman Joe Muldoon said that the buildings will still need to be demolished because the work was ordered by federal authorities. He also said that the rubble will be fenced off until a proper plan is established.

"Once we are through the environmental [assessment] process and have approvals, we would then move forward to taking that rubble and disposing of the rubble in an appropriate manner," he told the news provider.