Arsenic levels in the Quinsam River watershed are increasing because
of the Quinsam Coal Mine, says the UBC scientist studying the issue,
and to suggest otherwise – as the company has done – is a “gross
distortion” of the facts.

Dr. William Cullen presented his
updated Quinsam watershed study to city council Tuesday night. The
“disturbing findings” show arsenic levels increasing in Long Lake
sediments below the mine. Arsenic sediments are more toxic to organisms
than normal. Arsenic is increasingly available to organisms as far
away as the lower Quinsam River.

Cullen said study data shows sulphates and arsenic are clearly coming from the mine, and coming at an increasing rate.

Company officials say there’s no connection between mining the arsenic. Cullen scoffed at that Tuesday.

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