Women should avoid Iqaluit dumpcano smoke: health advisory

Women of child-bearing age are being warned to limit their exposure tosmoke from Iqaluit's ongoing dump fire, because there is a possibilityit could decrease fertility in any boys they might give birth to.

"The main reason for issuing the health advisory was to inform women, not to alarm them, but to inform women that there is a very small risk," says Dr. GeraldineOsbourne, Nunavut's acting medical officer of health.

"It's just a precaution," she says. "It's just giving women the information so that they can make good health choices."

The latest air quality test results show the sum of the levels of dioxins andfuransin Iqaluit's air exceed Ontario health standards. According to information released by the territory, thestandard level is 0.1 pg/m3 (picograms per cubic metre), while theaverage level over 24 hours in Iqaluit is 0.2 pg/m3.

Exposure to that level of dioxins could affect male offspring, but the Department of health says the standard level is "conservative."

Long-term exposure to high levels of dioxins isknown to increase cancer risk, but Osbourne says "the levels of dioxins that we have measured are well below the health standard for cancer."

"So cancer risk would not be my concern."

The governmentsays levels of other air pollutantshave been low and do not pose a threat to public health.

Health officials recommend women of child-bearing age, along with those with heart or lung disease or asthma, as well as children, pregnant women andthe elderlyavoidthe area around the dump fire and stayindoors as much as possible with the doors and windows closed.