N.W.T. education minister commits to recommendations after school lead investigation
Cayley Thomas, an alternative dispute resolution lawyer with the firm Thomas ADR, made a number of recommendations after Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland tasked her with investigating what happened.
Her findings were released publicly on Monday, along with a pair of water quality assessment reports by the firm Stantec Consulting Ltd. during a territorial news conference.
One of Thomas's recommendations is that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) oversee the development of a plan to test for lead in drinking water at all N.W.T. schools on a yearly basis, complete with testing protocols, plans for what to do if lead levels were too high, and a communication plan.
"We are committed to, in principle, applying the recommendations," Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland said Tuesday morning on CBC's The Trailbreaker.
Thomas's other recommendations are that:
The office of the chief public health officer prepare an education presentation for the education and infrastructure departments and Yellowknife school boards.
Any issues with human health implications at schools, daycares or educational facilities be flagged to management immediately.
That roles, responsibilities and lines of communication be clarified between the education department and the Yellowknife school boards.
That any outstanding tests be done this fall.
That the chief public health officer and education department officials should meet face to face to talk about best practices for future water testing.
Thomas found that the root cause of delays in communicating and taking action was that staff in both the education and infrastructure departments didn't understand the health implications of lead in drinking water.
Cleveland did not directly answer a question about whether there would be consequences for education staff who were involved.
"This has been very public," Cleveland said, adding that the intent of the project had been positive from the outset.
"There was nothing malicious about this. Everybody who worked on this was, in earnest, feeling like they were coming at this from a place of proactivity, in a place of wanting to do good. So this has been a very big challenge for the public servants that have been involved."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Associated Press
FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2025: DECADES-OLD LEAD POLLUTION LINKED TO MEMORY PROBLEMS IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY FINDS
Key Takeaways TORONTO, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Historic lead levels from the era of leaded gasoline may be contributing to cognitive issues 50 years later, suggests research reported for the first time at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference ® 2025 (AAIC®), in Toronto and online. Americans are about 20% more likely to experience memory problems if they lived in areas with high levels of atmospheric lead between 1960 and 1974, according to the analysis of more than 600,000 adults 65 and older. ' Research suggests half the U.S. population — more than 170 million people — were exposed to high lead levels in early childhood. This research sheds more light on the toxicity of lead related to brain health in older adults today,' said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. 'Other studies reported at AAIC 2025 suggest that (a) lead exposure at any point in life may cause cognitive problems, (b) it may be more likely to affect certain populations and reflect disparities, and (c) there is a biological connection between lead exposure and Alzheimer's.' Historic levels of lead air pollution are associated with memory problems 50 years later In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers examined how exposure to airborne lead from 1960-1974 — when leaded gasoline use was at its highest — may affect brain health later in life. They determined that older adults who grew up in areas with moderate to extremely high historical atmospheric lead levels (HALL) were about 20% more likely to report memory problems as adults 50 years later. The researchers calculated the average HALL by area and linked it to self-reported memory problems from the American Community Survey from 2012-2017 (368,208 people) and 2018-2021 (276,476 people). They didn't analyze the source of the lead but believe that the higher the density of automobile traffic, such as in urban areas, the higher the atmospheric lead. Factoring in both time periods, the researchers determined that 17-22% of people living in areas with moderate, high or extremely high atmospheric lead reported memory issues. 'Our study may help us understand the pathways that contribute to some people developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease,' said Eric Brown, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, lead author of the study, associate scientist and associate chief of geriatric psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto. Lead was originally added to gasoline to increase performance until researchers determined it posed serious risks to health and the environment. The more than 20-year-long phase-out of leaded gas began in 1975 when all new cars sold in the U.S. were required to have catalytic converters. 'When I was a child in 1976, our blood carried 15 times more lead than children's blood today,' said Esme Fuller-Thomson, Ph.D., senior author of the study and a professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Ientash Faculty of Social Work and director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging. 'An astonishing 88% of us had levels higher than 10 micrograms per deciliter, which are now considered dangerously high.' While the risk of atmospheric lead has decreased, other sources of exposure remain, such as old lead paint and pipes. Those who have been exposed to atmospheric lead should focus on reducing other risk factors for dementia, including high blood pressure, smoking and social isolation, said Brown. Living near lead-polluting sites may affect memory Another study reported at AAIC found that older adults who live about three miles from a lead-releasing facility — such as glass, ready-mixed concrete or computer and electronics manufacturers — are more likely to have memory and thinking problems than those who live farther away. This research, which focused on a racially and ethnically diverse group of older adults, reinforces concerns about the long-term cognitive impact of environmental lead exposure, especially in communities already facing health disparities. Researchers assessed 2,379 patients (average age ~74 years) from two studies: the Kaiser Health Aging and Diverse Life Experienced study (KHANDLE, 1,638 patients) of a diverse group of Kaiser Permanente insurance plan members who live in northern California, and the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR, 741 patients) study of Black adults age 50 and older who live in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas. They evaluated the participants' proximity to the nearest lead-releasing facility and compared the distance to participants' Neuropsychological Assessment Scales results at baseline and two years later. Compared to two years earlier, the KHANDLE participants who lived within 5 km (just over three miles) of a lead-releasing facility scored 0.15 times lower on verbal episodic memory tests (recall of personal experiences), and 0.07 times lower on overall cognitive ability compared to those living farther away. Every 5 km farther a participant lived from a lead-releasing facility was associated with 5% higher memory scores two years later. Among STAR group participants living within 5 km of a lead-releasing facility, researchers observed a 0.20 times lower score on semantic memory (general knowledge) two years later, compared to those who lived farther away. 'Our results indicate that lead exposure in adulthood could contribute to worse cognitive performance within a few years,' said Kathryn Conlon, Ph.D., MPH, senior author and associate professor of environmental epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. 'Despite tremendous progress on lead abatement, studies have shown there is no safe level of exposure, and half of U.S. children have detectable levels of lead in their blood. Additionally, there are regions and neighborhoods that have more exposure.' According to Conlon, there were 7,507 lead-releasing facilities in the U.S. in 2023. To reduce exposure, Conlon said people living near lead-producing facilities should keep their homes clean to avoid the accumulation of lead-contaminated dust, remove their shoes when coming inside, and place dust mats inside and outside to avoid tracking lead-contaminated dust indoors. Use the Environmental Protection Agency's TRI Toxics Tracker to identify lead-releasing facilities near you. Study reveals how lead exposure may set the stage for Alzheimer's Even low levels of lead exposure can create permanent changes in brain cells, including increased buildup of abnormal tau and amyloid beta, which are proteins associated with Alzheimer's, suggests a third study reported at AAIC 2025. The researchers exposed human brain cells to lead concentrations of zero, 15 and 50 parts per billion (ppb), simulating the kind of lead exposure people might experience through contaminated water or air. The EPA's action level for lead in drinking water is 15 ppb. They ran molecular, genetic, biochemical and functional tests on the cells and determined that (a) the 15-ppb and 50-ppb lead-exposed neurons were more electrically active (suggesting early dysfunction) than those that had no exposure, (b) energy-producing cells were damaged, and (c) there was an increase in tau and amyloid beta. Even after the lead was removed, the cells remained primed for damage, responding more severely to additional stressors such as tau. 'These findings help explain how lead exposure, especially in early life or from occupational and environmental sources, might leave a lasting molecular imprint on the brain making it more vulnerable to age-related diseases like Alzheimer's,' said Junkai Xie, Ph.D., lead author of the study and post-doctoral research associate in chemical engineering at Purdue University. 'Our results show that lead exposure isn't just a short-term concern; it may set the stage for cognitive problems decades later.' About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® (AAIC®) The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community. AAIC 2025 home page: AAIC 2025 newsroom: AAIC 2025 hashtag: #AAIC25 About the Alzheimer's Association® The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit or call 800.272.3900. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
New York Times
21 hours ago
- New York Times
Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Wafts Over New York City
Officials warned that smoke-filled air would blanket the New York City area on Sunday, creating unhealthy conditions for some, as soot and ash from Canadian wildfires drifted across the border. The air quality health advisory, issued on Saturday, will expire on Sunday night, the National Weather Service said. On Saturday, parts of the city reached 136 on the Air Quality Index, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company, briefly making it one of the cities in the United States with the worst air quality. Parts of Massachusetts and New Jersey were also under air quality advisories on Saturday. The index in New York City was predicted to reach a maximum of 120 on Sunday, putting it in the classification of 'unhealthy for sensitive groups,' according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The index could reach 135 in the Upper Hudson Valley and 120 on Long Island. Maps: Tracking Air Quality and Smoke From Wildfires in Canada and the U.S. See maps of where smoke is traveling and how harmful the air has become. The Weather Service advised vulnerable groups, which includes young children and those who have respiratory ailments, to take precautions like limiting strenuous outdoor activity. An index reading of below 50 is considered good. A reading of above 150 means the air is considered 'unhealthy,' and the ill effects might be felt more widely by healthy people. For weeks, smoke from wildfires in Canada has been drifting across the border to the United States during its annual fire season, which usually runs from March to October. Wildfires are a common cause of extended periods of unhealthy air, and fine particles of soot, ash and dust can billow high in the air and be blown for hundreds of miles by prevailing winds. The drifting smoke from Canada's fires has become a growing issue in the United States in recent years. In 2023, wildfires burned more land in Canada than ever before, and created smoke so intense that it turned the skies over New York City a frightening shade of orange. Experts have warned that climate change was turning environments like Canada's forests into a tinderbox. This year, smoke from Canada's wildfires has again drifted south across the U.S. border, inflaming diplomatic relations. This month, six Republican lawmakers wrote to Canada's ambassador to the United States, demanding to know the Canadian government's plan for tackling the wildfires and accusing it of lax forest management. The premier of Manitoba Province in Western Canada, where wildfires have been particularly bad, blasted the letter, accusing the U.S. lawmakers of 'trying to trivialize and make hay out of a wildfire season where we've lost lives in our province.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What are nitrates and should we be worried about our tap water?
A water company that has identified rising nitrate levels in raw untreated water is planning to improve some of its treatment sites with almost £50m of investment. Anglian Water says it is being "proactive" with the plans but what are nitrates and are they safe to drink? A number of its treatment sites take raw water from rivers - including the Nar, Wensum and Wissey in Norfolk - which is then treated and distributed to customers. However, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has identified seven sites at increasing risk of breaching nitrate levels, which would constitute a potential danger to human health. How is drinking water regulated? Nitrate removal is part of the process for treating water to make it compliant with regulations, which have been laid out by the DWI. The first legal standard for nitrate was set in 1980 and the current drinking standard is 50mg/L. Since the 1990s, water companies have been required to take remedial action when there is a risk of not meeting this standard. Where do nitrates come from? Nitrate is a compound formed from nitrogen and oxygen, and is found in surface water and groundwater where fertilisers have been used on the land. Rainfall is said to wash nitrate out of the soil, which then runs into lakes, rivers and streams. Anglian Water said excess nitrate in the environment was a consequence of modernisation and intensification of agriculture during and after World War Two. Due to the slow travel time of nitrate from the soil surface to groundwater sources, nitrate concentrations recorded today are a result of historical land management. The company warned stricter rules on nitrate limits would further restrict fertiliser use, potentially lowering crop yields and impacting British food security. What are the health implications? Downham Market GP and West Norfolk Independent councillor Dr Pallavi Devulapalli believes it is "extremely unlikely" the nitrate levels could cause a risk to public health. She said: "Nitrates can get into our bloodstream if we drink water that contains too much of them, and that can result in methaemoglobinaemia, which is essentially slightly blue blood, reducing the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen around the body. "They did precautionary tests and found there was a potential for nitrate contamination and were putting measures in place to stop it happening." The DWI said this health condition occurred when nitrate intake was "very high". The last recorded case of methaemoglobinaemia in the United Kingdom was in the 1950s. What is Anglian Water proposing to do? Anglian Water's business plan states it is going to invest almost £50m into its seven existing water treatment sites in Marham, Congham, Ryston, Houghton St Giles, Ringstead, Lyng Forge and North Pickenham. Work on the sites is expected to be completed by 2029. The water company said it had seen rising nitrate levels in raw water prior to treatment and saw the improvements as a way of being able to proactively maintain its current compliance in treated water. It said: "We're working with landowners on long-term solutions to reduce nitrates at the source, but at the same time we're proactively investing in new solutions to remove nitrates through our treatment processes. "This investment is all about acting early to ensure we keep ahead of emerging challenges so we can continue to keep nitrate levels in drinking water within safe limits." Is our tap water safe to drink? The DWI says water companies are required to monitor their sources for nitrate and take action where levels are increasing. It said: "In this case, Anglian Water identified rising nitrate trends and, as part of its business plan, proposed an improvement scheme to manage the risk. "This is a proactive measure and does not indicate that drinking water is currently unsafe. Notices issued through the periodic review process are intended to ensure supplies remain safe and compliant over the long term." It said breaches must be reported so it could be assessed whether public health had been protected and if the company had met its legal duties. Anglian Water said: "We closely monitor the quality of our drinking water, and the treated water we supply continues to meet all drinking water quality standards." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Failing water sector needs stronger regulation, says damning review 'Cool data centres with treated sewage' - water firm 'Our paddleboards come out brown, it's disgusting' Related internet links Anglian Water Drinking Water Inspectorate
