Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
KODAK PIXPRO AZ405 Digital Camera (20MP, 40X Zoom) Buy Now
4K Dual Screen Camera with 18X Zoom Buy Now
Essentials Men's Regular-Fit Shirt Buy Now
OLOV Electric Body Hair Trimmer Buy Now
Lee Women's Ultra Lux Comfort Jeans Buy Now
Beard Trimming Catcher Bib Buy Now
DEARMAY Gold Bracelets Set Buy Now
Lee Men's Regular Fit Straight Leg Jean Buy Now
Classic Quartz Resin Casual Watch Buy Now
3-Pack No-See-Thru Yoga Leggings Buy Now
ASUS Vivobook Go 14 L410 Ultra Thin Laptop Buy Now
Blazer Casual Sport Coats Buy Now
Women's Active Mini Dress Buy Now
3-in-1 Charger for iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch Buy Now
Ecosmart Fleece Full-zip Hoodie Buy Now
Best Friend Keychain Gifts Buy Now
Schick Hydro Silk Touch-Up Dermaplaning Tool Buy Now
SAMPEEL Crop Tops Buy Now
GoPro HERO13 Black: 5.3K Action Camera Buy Now
Kenneth Cole REACTION Mens Jeans Slim Fit Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Here's why some Jasper residents are paying to test for contaminants in their homes

Here's why some Jasper residents are paying to test for contaminants in their homes

CBC
Saturday, September 14, 2024 12:39 PM GMT

The Municipality of Jasper says that the air quality of the town is safe for residents, but some homeowners are worried that contaminants like heavy metals may have seeped into their homes during the wildfire.

Patricia Urie returned to her Jasper home on the first day residents could return, but didn't stay long. 

"We went in with masks on … I did take it off for a minute, and it smelled a bit smoky and [metallic]," said Urie. "My husband and I got headaches and we didn't stay there for very long." 

Concerned about the air quality inside her home, Urie paid for an indoor environmental test by Pure Air Solutions Services, after hearing that some residents of Fort McMurray used them after the 2016 wildfire. 

The company gathered samples by wiping surface areas in Urie's home. She said the results showed high levels of lead, chromium, zinc, and nickel. 

"It's surprising … the amount of lead that was found in our house is off the charts," said Urie. 

The company found 25,000 micrograms of lead per wipe — a normal wipe would show about 50 micrograms of lead. 

"The lead levels are indeed quite high … the levels were on the order of 10s of thousands of micrograms per wipe," said Arthur Chan, professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry at the University of Toronto. 

"These levels are in general … compared to lead that you would find in house dust in Canada, this level is indeed quite high." 

Chan said he isn't certain about how the company does its testing, but says it's plausible that the contaminants came as a result of the wildfire — and not always from an obvious source. 

'When a fire comes, it could carry a lot of what was on the ground or in the soil and bring it back up to the air and deposit it in different homes."

Following the 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Chan tested the interior of 120 homes for contaminants like heavy metals and asbestos. 

"We found that the levels were comparable to a city … that hasn't been affected by major wildfires before," said Chan. 

"We compare the levels in between the neighbourhoods and there were small, subtle difference … but the differences were not large enough to, for example, exceed guidelines." 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Carney and Trump are holding private talks to drop tariffs

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are having discussions out of the spotlight to reach a trade deal and lift tariffs.

'That raised a lot of alarms': Convicted killer's DNA found at crime scene, murder trial hears

Drops of blood found near the body of a murdered woman came back matching the DNA of a convicted killer, a Calgary judge heard Thursday as Christopher Dunlop's trial entered its second day. 

Crews working to save homes as winds worsen fires in northeastern B.C.

Andrew Kurjata | Last updated: Thursday at 4:08 p.m. PT

Hot classrooms have P.E.I. teachers' union urging province to take chilling actions

It didn't take long for Prince Edward Island to switch from sweater weather to sweaty weather this spring. 

Calgary's white hat welcome tradition appears to be a no-go for the G7 this time around

As the world's most powerful leaders prepare to descend on Kananaskis, Alta., for this year's G7 summit, a famous Calgary welcome tradition may not take place this time.

Improved weather helps crews fight wildfires in Manitoba's north, east

Weather conditions in areas with wildfires are improving for firefighters, with cooler temperatures and increased humidity, but officials say they will continue fighting the blazes for some time. 

Boy, 6, falls from 10th-floor apartment in Toronto's west end

A six-year-old boy suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries after he fell from a 10th floor apartment unit in Toronto on Thursday, police and paramedics say.

Nunavut gov't, teachers' union ratify new collective agreement

The government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Teachers' Association have ratified a new collective agreement with several incremental wage increases until mid-2028. 

House unanimously adopts Liberals' promised income tax cut

The House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of the Liberals' promised income tax cut on Thursday.

Measles-infected infant dies in southwestern Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of Health announced on Thursday the first recorded death of a measles patient from the current outbreak that started in October of last year. 

Former New York, London transit exec tapped to lead Toronto Transit Commission

The incoming CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission says he hopes to leverage his experience working for two of the largest transit agencies in the world to make the TTC the most reliable transit system in North America. 

Copper wire thefts surge in downtown London with salvage yards told to be on alert

London police are urging downtown residents, businesses and property owners to be on alert amid an uptick in copper wire thefts in the core over the last several months.

April's $7.1B merchandise trade deficit was the largest on record

Canada posted its largest merchandise trade deficit on record in April — at $7.1 billion — as exports fell sharply in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Western University to get 200 of province's new teacher college spaces

The Ontario government's move to add 2,600 teacher college spaces will open 200 new entry slots to Western University's education program over the next two years. 

Toronto man had to fight GoFundMe to get paid after organizer gambled away funds for his brother's funeral

In the aftermath of his younger brother's sudden death last year, Allan Oliver says he was surprised when a family friend set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral.

Bay du Nord FPSO contract will be awarded in months but future undecided, says Equinor

While the future of the stalled Bay du Nord project has yet to be decided, an Equinor Canada representative says there are positive signs for the project's future, including a major contract that the oil giant will award in the next few months.

Mining, energy companies say hydro storage project could be template for N.S. mines

Halifax councillors have heard new details about a proposed hydro energy storage project at a former gold mine in the municipality.

Wildfires in West cast smoky — and potentially risky — haze over N.B.

New Brunswickers might have noticed a haze in the sky over the last couple of days.

Quebec floats cutting services for non-permanent residents

Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said he isn't ruling out the possibility of cutting services for non-permanent residents in the province if the federal government fails to halve its annual immigration targets.

Sask. wildfires have already burned 900K hectares of forest so far this year: SPSA

Wildfires continue to rage out of control in northern Saskatchewan, and have now burned almost 1,000,000 hectares of the province's forest so far this year and forced thousands of people from their homes.

Nearly half of northern Alberta community destroyed as wildfires flare

As Albertans forced out by wildfires are being allowed to return home, other evacuees are learning their homes have been lost to the flames. 

Vancouver man arrested after driving into Pacific Coliseum entrance during Cirque du Soleil show, police say

A 30-year-old man has been arrested after driving a vehicle into the Pacific Coliseum on Thursday night, say Vancouver police.

Charlottetown would be 'better served' with 4 firefighters at 1st response, says union

The union that represents professional firefighters in P.E.I.'s capital city is joining a campaign that calls for a minimum of four people per truck to initially respond in emergency situations.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto celebrates grand opening of new Indigenous health centre

A Indigenous organization in Toronto is celebrating the grand opening of a new health care facility that brings together traditional Indigenous healing and Western medicine under one roof.

Efforts are underway to make Dawson City, Yukon, more accessible — but it's not easy

To many residents and visitors, the unpaved streets, crooked boardwalks and historic buildings of Dawson City, Yukon, are a big part of the Gold Rush town's charm — but for people with mobility issues, they can also be a lot of trouble.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us