Rabaska

The National Focal Point to stop LNG demand to the Minister of Health, Philippe Couillard, to clarify, once and for all, the risk that the Rabaska project entails for the health and safety of the population. This is because according to a report by the Office of public hearings on the environment (BAPE) the total concentrations of nitrogen dioxide resulting from the implementation of an LNG port would be at least 325 micrograms per cubic metres, 125 micrograms above the threshold defined by the standards of the World Health Organization. The port LNG issue also disturbing quantities of sulphur dioxide in the residential sector around. In these circumstances, the Regional Directorate of Public Health estimates that the number of heart diseases, cancers and respiratory increase by 4% to 8%. "We are obliged to come to the conclusion that there will be an increase in mortality for people in the sector. This is a conclusion. It is reversing, "says a spokesman for the group, Dr. Jacques Levasseur. The Quebec College of Family Physicians also shares the concerns of the group: "These standards then represent the minimum thresholds to protect public health," says Dr. John O'Driscoll As for the Minister Couillard, he prefers to review the file before answering grievances of the collective.