P033. Environmental and industrial violence in Rouyn-Noranda, Canada

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

Between 2018 and 2020, the completion and publication of two studies quantifying the presence of certain contaminants under the fingernails of residents of the city of Rouyn-Noranda in Quebec, Canada, once again shook the local population. The results showed arsenic, lead, and cadmium levels exceeding the recommended maximum limits. An impressive citizen mobilization was observed through the media, as well as some polarization of opinions favoring health concerns versus economic interests. A plan to reduce contaminant emissions was adopted by the Quebec government in March 2023, but it did not comply with the existing standards or address the demands of some parts of the population. The destruction of the neighborhood next to the smelter is upcoming.
This communication aims to present the results of research conducted for my master's thesis, where I gathered the lived experiences of fifteen citizens residing in Rouyn-Noranda in the summer of 2023. It aims to share the findings and recommendations made by the individuals I met, who reported experiencing health impacts themselves or on their loved ones, being subjected to unreasonable constraints, and facing constant stress, leading some to experience a decline in their well-being (or mental health). Many expressed a need to be listened to, heard, considered, and involved in decisions regarding their health and the preservation of their territory. Many also call for changes in practices to eliminate these structural violences and the resulting social division.

Author

• Évelyne Corriveau, Université Laval, Québec, Canada