Nuclear materials have no place near homes, school

Nestled in the heart of Peterborough, in a residential neighbourhood, very close to an elementary school, is a class 1 nuclear facility. BWXT-Nuclear Energy Canada, formerly General Electric-Hitachi, is currently assembling nuclear fuel bundles and repairing contaminated equipment. However in its 10-year licence renewal it is seeking permission to transfer uranium dioxide pelleting operations from Toronto to Peterborough.

First, for the very first time, this will enable BWXT-Peterborough to handle large amounts of a very fine uranium powder, that is easily inhaled, or ingested or absorbed into the body through a cut or abrasion.

Secondly, under the new licence, fugitive emissions of uranium dust are expected to escape routinely from the plant as airborne dust emissions as well as liquid effluent which will enter Peterborough’s water system.

Thirdly that uranium is a very long-lived radioactive heavy metal that poses both a chemical hazard and a radiological hazard when inhaled, ingested or absorbed. Children and women are known to be much more vulnerable to these hazards.

And lastly, there will be no federal environmental assessment for this significant activity which will impact our health, community and environment.

A public meeting will be held on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at Prince of Wales Public School to hear from two leading experts on the health implications for our community. Speakers include Gordon Edwards, PhD, physicist, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, and Dr. Cathy Vakil, MD, CCFP, FCFP, assistant professor, Queen’s University, Kingston.

Come and learn why and how to say NO to uranium pelleting in Peterborough.

Gillian Trowbridge, Peterborough