The Flin Flon Soil Study had many different parts; the overall intent of which was to collect the information needed to understand how Flin Flon residents might come in contact with metals in their everyday lives and the potential effect of that exposure.

Understanding Risk

The largest part of the study was the Human Health Risk Assessment which was completed in 2010.  It predicted people’s exposure to metals, and whether or not these exposures could affect health. Visit Study Findings to learn more.

A Community Health Status Assessment was also completed by public health officials from Manitoba Health to compare the overall health status of Flin Flon area population to provincial averages. Visit Study Findings to learn more.

Two Evaluations of Exposure studies – which measured actual levels of select metals in the blood and urine of children – were also completed as part of the Flin Flon Soil Study.  The first study, which was completed in 2009, provided more information on the three metals (i.e., lead, inorganic mercury and arsenic) that the Human Health Risk Assessment identified as having potential for elevated exposure.

The results of the first Evaluation of Exposure provided a better understanding of exposure levels in the Flin Flon area, and – together with the results of the Human Health Risk Assessment and the Community Health Status Assessment – provided enough information to recommend a number of actions that would help minimize people’s exposure to metals. Visit Study Findings to learn more about the actions taken.

Measuring Improvements

In April 2013, the second Evaluation of Exposure study measured blood lead levels in children, and evaluated the effectiveness of the actions taken to reduce exposure to lead after the first Evaluation of Exposure. To learn about the findings of this latest study visit the Study Findings page.