Quote from Steve MacLellan on March 3, 2025, 2:06 pm

KJIPUKTUK / HALIFAX, NS, February 19, 2025 – The Nova Scotia committee of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) is raising urgent concerns about the provincial government’s plans to repeal legislation protecting Nova Scotians from the development of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and uranium mining. In response to Premier Houston’s recent announcements, CAPE Nova Scotia warns that these activities pose significant and long-lasting threats to public health and the environment.

Dr. Laurette Geldenhuys, speaking on behalf of CAPE Nova Scotia, states, “As physicians, we are deeply troubled by the potential health consequences of fracking and uranium mining. The medical evidence is clear and growing – these activities are associated with serious health risks that our communities cannot afford to bear.”

Recent studies have shown strong correlations between proximity to fracking sites and increased rates of preterm births, low birth weight, congenital defects, childhood asthma, and leukemia. A 2022 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that children living near fracking sites had 2-3 times higher odds of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Uranium mining presents its own set of health hazards, including increased risks of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases among miners and nearby residents due to radiation exposure. The long-term environmental impacts of uranium mining are equally concerning, leaving a toxic legacy of radioactive waste that persists for tens of thousands of years.

“We recognize the economic challenges facing Nova Scotia,” Dr. Geldenhuys adds, “but pursuing resource extraction activities that significantly harm our health and the environment is not the solution. We need sustainable approaches that protect both our economy and our well-being.” |Read more|