title: Mining in subarctic Canada: airborne PM2.5 metal concentrations in two remote First Nations communities.
abstract: Airborne particulate matter arising from upwind mining activities is a concern for First Nations communities in the western James Bay region of Ontario, Canada. Aerosol chemical components were collected in 2011 from two communities in northern Ontario. The chemical and mass concentration data of particulate matter collected during this study shows a significant difference in PM2.5 in Attawapiskat compared to Fort Albany. Elemental profiles indicate enhanced levels of some tracers thought to arise from mining activities, such as, K, Ni, and crustal materials. Both communities are remote and isolated from urban and industrial pollution sources, however, Attawapiskat First Nation has significantly enhanced levels of particulate matter, and it is likely that some of this arises from upwind mining activities.
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational and Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liberda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Leonard J S
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA. Electronic address: rpeltier@umass.edu.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Peltier
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008906:Mining; D009864:Ontario / Q000208:ethnology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012111:Residence Characteristics
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Crustal material; Exposure; First Nations; Mining; PM dispersion