Risks to Human Health from Sulfide-Ore Copper Mining

Twin Metals Minnesota and other sulfide-ore copper mines proposed near the Boundary Waters would be located in the heart of where thousands of people live, work and play. The human health impact of proposed sulfide-ore copper mines must be fully evaluated to prevent creating major threats to public health.

• Sulfide-ore copper mining has the potential to release numerous chemicals known to negatively affect human health, including mercury, arsenic, lead, asbestos-like fibers, and air pollution.
• These chemicals are included in the World Health Organization’s “top 10 chemicals of major public health concern.”
• Communities must be proactive in asking how sulfide-ore copper mining projects would affect human health instead of scrambling to address human health impacts after they have already occurred.
• A public health impact assessment for the first sulfide-ore copper mine project proposed in Minnesota, PolyMet, was called for by:
  • Minnesota Medical Association,
  • Minnesota Nurses Association,
  • Minnesota Department of Health,
  • Minnesota Public Health Association,
  • More than 150 health providers.
• On April 15, 2015, the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) adopted a resolution at its annual House of Delegates meeting that highlighted concerns over the public health impacts of sulfideore copper mining proposals.
  • The Minnesota Association of Family Physicians represents more than 3,000 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students.
  • The Lake Superior Chapter of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians submitted the resolution, which passed unanimously among at the statewide meeting.
  • The resolution reads:

Resolution #3: Request for Health Risk Assessment of Sulfide Mining in Northeastern Minnesota

BE IT RESOLVED, that the MAFP requests that a Human Health Risk Assessment be performed using the most current scientific modeling methods to evaluate the health effects of the byproducts of proposed [sulfide-ore] mining projects, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the MAFP supports the subsequent completion of a Human Health Impact Assessment for [sulfide-ore] mining projects so that both health professionals and the public can make informed decision.

Resources:

Sulfide-ore Mining and Human Health in Minnesota - March 2022

Public Health and Economic Consequences of Methyl Mercury Toxicity to the Developing Brain

Sulfide Mining and Human Health in Minnesota - November 2016

Risks and costs to human health of sulfide-ore mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness