![]() 1b Farming, forestry, fishing and the fur industry dominated Canada’s economic development until 1849 when the discovery of placer (i.e., deposits of sand or gravel that contain valuable metals) 3 gold in California revived mineral exploration interest. Iron and silver discoveries in Nova Scotia resulted in a few small mining operations subsequently operated by French and English settlers. Then we skip to the early 1600s, when Samuel de Champlain, with aboriginal assistance, began searching for mineral occurrences. The next epoch in Canadian mining history is documented by evidence of iron mining in ninth century Viking settlements in Newfoundland. Canada’s metal industryĬanada’s first prospectors and miners, of First Nations origin, mined copper and shaped it into tools and artifacts. The reader is referred to the Radon section in the present volume for a treatise of the relevance of radiation on the development of cancer. 2b Uranium merits separate attention and is therefore excluded from this discussion, as are other types of metals, non-metals, structural materials and fuels. The selection of mining and processing operations discussed is based on metals of high economic value and the prevalence of currently available health literature. Studies of workers are discussed in chronological order of publication. This chapter summarizes the history of mining and the types of ores mined in Canada, reviews studies of cancer risk in nickel, gold, and copper mining and processing workers (excluding those in metal and alloy fabrication, engineered products, and metal finishing), and recommends further cancer-related research studies relevant to such workers. 1a With the recent expansion of diamond mining operations in the north, Canada is now the third largest producer in the world. ![]() It is also an important world producer of zinc, uranium, potash, nickel, cadmium, selenium, indium, copper, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, molybdenum, gypsum, and gold. Canada is a leading mineral-producer and trader of coal, metals, structural materials, and non-metallic or industrial minerals. ![]() Canadian mines provide materials for the manufacturing, construction, automotive, and chemical industries, and produce important sources of energy. However, it is of most importance in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Mining occurs in all Canadian provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island. The available results appear to demand additional study of a variety of potential occupational and non-occupational risk factors. Nevertheless, animal carcinogenesis studies, studies of nickel carcinogenesis mechanisms, and epidemiological studies with quantitative exposure assessment of various nickel species would enhance our understanding of human health risks associated with nickel.ĭefinitive conclusions linking cancer to exposures in gold and copper mining and processing are not possible at this time. The general population risk from the extremely small concentrations detectable in ambient air are negligible. There appears to be little or no detectable risk in most sectors of the nickel industry at current exposure levels. Evidence comes from studies of nickel refinery and leaching, calcining, and sintering workers in the early half of the 20th century. As such, cancer sites of concern include the lung, and the nasal sinus. Exposure to nickel or nickel compounds via routes other than inhalation has not been shown to increase cancer risk in humans. The human carcinogenicity of nickel depends upon the species of nickel, its concentration and the route of exposure. This chapter examines cancer risk related to the mining of gold, nickel and copper. ![]() Workers in metal mining and processing are exposed, not only to the metal of interest, but also to various other substances prevalent in the industry, such as diesel emissions, oil mists, blasting agents, silica, radon, and arsenic. Ores include bauxite, copper, gold, iron, lead and zinc. Ore mining occurs in all Canadian provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island. Gold, Nickel and Copper Mining and Processing ![]()
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