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

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

The First Nation says the removal was expected to effect successful immoderate increased benzene levels until Saturday and monitors were acceptable up astir the assemblage 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 the First Nation reported immoderate residents had fallen ill, prompting the assemblage 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 the tract by Oct. 16.

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

The First Nation says respective of its offices, including the set office, volition 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 the constitution of crude oil. It’s utilized to marque styrene, a lightweight integrative utilized successful items specified arsenic car parts, nutrient containers and toys.

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault described the evacuation arsenic precautionary and said the authorities was moving with the First Nation.

“We volition proceed to enactment with them to show the concern and to intervene again, if request be, regarding this institution oregon different companies,” helium 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.