Transport Canada was concerned about forever chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as far back as the 1980s, files obtained through an access-to-information request confirm.

Thousands of chemicals fall within the PFAS family, and some have been linked to liver and prostate cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, fatty liver disease and to affecting lipid function, which is linked to Type 2 diabetes.

For decades, Transport Canada — along with the Department of National Defence (DND) and the National Research Council of Canada — conducted firefighter training exercises at airports across Canada with aqueous film-forming foams that contain PFAS.

The foams were seen as an effective way to fight jet fuel fires, but their use at sites across the country contaminated groundwater with the forever chemicals.

Alex Templeton, a partner with the McInnes Cooper law firm in St. John’s, is leading a propopsed class-action lawsuit over the contamination of drinking water wells located near several airports in Newfoundland. In order to proceed, the class action must be certified by a judge.

The class action’s lead plaintiffs are Eddie and Susan Sheerr, “homeowners who one day had Transport Canada knock on their door asking if they would consent to a well test being done,” Templeton told CBC News.

It turned out their wells were “significantly in exceedance” of new drinking water guidelines set by Health Canada that say the total sum of several types of PFAS should next exceed 30 nanograms per litre.

Transport Canada managed the firefighter training exercises at airports near the Newfoundland and Labrador towns of Torbay and Logy Bay–Middle Cove–Outer Cove where the contaminated wells were located.

Through access-to-information requests, Templeton obtained several Transport Canada documents, including a 1984 report that determined toxicity of the effluent at the firefighter training sites could be extremely high.

Surfactants, a catch-all term at the time for what are now known as PFAS, were identified as one of the most significant sources of pollution in that effluent.

“So while the firefighter training exercises were ongoing at airports across Canada, they were concerned about the environmental impacts of the effluent that was being produced by these exercises,” Templeton said.

“And Transport Canada had evidence, again, as far back as 1984 that while these firefighter training exercises could be useful, they also could result in effluents that were extremely high in toxicity.”

The 1984 report, a “Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment of Fire Fighting Training Area Effluents and Transport Canada Facilities,” concluded that typical “effluents may be toxic at concentrations as low as 88 ppm, and that surfactants and fuel residuals may be persistent.”

A 1990 report showed that Transport Canada had concerns at that time about the risk of contamination of groundwater from run-off at those firefighter training areas.

In 1986, Transport Canada stopped the firefighter training exercises at the airport in Timmins, Ont., because a report from an engineering firm discovered a large amount of groundwater pollution at that site.

The documents confirm Transport Canada put standards in place in 1979 to contain effluent at those sites through proper grading and barriers, such as clay or gravel.

But the documents also raised concerns over those standards as being outdated (by 1990) and how they did not address how winter conditions, with snow and ice, could impact run-off. The 1990 report also found 30 per cent of surveyed sites across Canada did not even meet the 1979 standards.

“The current AK standard for construction and design of FTAs [firefighter training areas] issues in 1979 is outdated and does not address today’s environmental concerns,” the report said.

The standards set in 1979 also didn’t address the treatment or disposal of the effluent from the firefighting foams.

In an email to CBC News, Transport Canada spokesperson Flavio Nienow said firefighting activities at airports were conducted in accordance with policies and environmental practices in place at that time.

“As Transport Canada became aware of the potential environmental impacts associated with these activities, training was consolidated at larger airports across the country, reducing the number of training sites over time,” the email said.

“PFAS was not known to be a contaminant at the time.”

Templeton responded by email that Transport Canada’s response runs counter to concerns raised in the 1984 and 1990 reports he obtained through access to information.

Concerns in North Bay 

The reports have raised new concerns in North Bay, which is dealing with a $120-million clean-up effort to remediate a site at the airport and remove PFAS from the drinking water. 

The firefighting foams seeped into the groundwater and made their way to Lees Creek, which flows to Trout Lake, the source of North Bay’s municipal drinking water.

The lake currently contains around 58 nanograms of PFAS per litre of water. While the amount is equivalent to only a few drops in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, it exceeds Health Canada’s drinking water guidelines of 30 nanograms per litre.

“Why was it not followed up on? Why was there not better communication between Transport Canada and National Defence?– Liza Vandermeer, North Bay resident

Ottawa-based law firm Mann Lawyers filed a proposed class-action lawsuit over PFAS contamination in North Bay.

The proposed class action alleges DND was aware in 2011 that PFAS levels in groundwater near the airport exceeded Health Canada drinking water guidelines at the time.

The North Bay Parry Sound Health District says DND informed it about groundwater monitoring at the airport in 2016.

The next year, the city posted an advisory urging people not to consume fish from Lees Creek.

CBC News asked DND if Transport Canada shared information from the 1984 and 1990 reports at the time, but did not receive a response.

Liza Vandermeer, a North Bay resident and former employee with Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment who responded to spills and cleaning contaminated sites, said she was appalled at the findings from the documents.

“They’d already identified this as a serious concern back in 1984,” she said.

“And why was it not followed up on? Why was there not better communication between Transport Canada and National Defence?”

EastEnders spoilers follow for Tuesday’s (February 17) episode which is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Having put the past to bed once again, Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) and Jake Moon (Joel Beckett) headed out of Walford together, ready for a fresh start.

In scenes reminiscent of their unexpected reunion and subsequent departure in 2024, the couple decided it was high time to look forward instead of back, leaving the Square in their rearview mirror.

Chrissie staged an unexpected return to screens back in December when it was confirmed that she was the mastermind behind the cruel campaign to destroy Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan).

The former Queen Vic landlady was using Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), who was subsequently revealed to be none other than Zoe’s biological daughter, to torment the Slater legend, still holding a grudge over what happened with Den (Leslie Grantham) two decades prior.

As fans will know, Chrissie served 19 years in prison for the murder of Den. She was released two years ago and used the opportunity to reunite with her former flame Jake, as they rode of the Walford for a new life together.

But Chrissie’s revenge mission against Zoe ultimately drove a wedge between her and Jake, who turned up in the Square earlier this month in search of his ex.

His comeback was a welcomed one for the Slater/Moon clan, given that Jake was long thought to be dead after a brush with Johnny Allen’s thugs in 2006.

But Jake was in for a shock of his own as he discovered that Kat (Jessie Wallace) suspected Chrissie of having murdered Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) and framing Zoe for the crime. Desperate for answers, he agreed to help track Chrissie down so that they could all finally get closure they needed.

Upon her latest comeback, Chrissie was appalled to learn of the wild accusations being made against her and instead pointed the finger instead at Jasmine who, as viewers know, did actually kill Anthony.

With such a theory going round in her head, Kat lured Jasmine back to Walford and Chrissie wasted little time in making her thoughts known, berating Jasmine for trying to pin the blame for the crime on her.

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

But as Kat demanded that she be allowed to deal with the Jasmine situation alone, Chrissie decided it was time to move on once more.

Still feeling betrayed that Jake thought her guilty of Anthony’s murder, the former hairdresser decided to call the police on her beau, planning on spilling the beans about how he murdered his own brother.

Jake, however, had other ideas about how they spend their future as he got down on one knee and proposed. It’s somewhat of a full circle moment given that Jake proposed to Chrissie when she was in prison for Den’s murder two decades ago. At the time, Chrissie told him not to wait for her.

But flash-forward 21 years and Jake was down on his knee. The happy ending they never got was within touching distance.

Chrissie was taken aback by his unexpected move and, after giving it some thought, she accepted his proposal, as they drove out of Walford together once again.

After all they’ve been through, will the future be a happy one for Chrissie and Jake? What’s more, will we ever see them in Walford again?

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer. 

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

MORE: The shocking stories from soaps that would never go ahead today

MORE: EastEnders to bring back dead character – in addictive AI persona

MORE: Another EastEnders resident arrested for murder amid framing plot

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, died Tuesday morning at the age of 84, his family said in a statement.

“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family. His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity. A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless — from his presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilizing millions to register to vote — leaving an indelible mark on history,” the statement said.

Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, becoming one of the most prominent Black political leaders of his era and expanding his national profile beyond the civil rights movement.

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; their children — Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef and Jacqueline; daughter Ashley Jackson; and grandchildren.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

A woke Portland, Oregon, pizza restaurant bombarded diners visiting its website with an unhinged anti-ICE rant – before bizarrely claiming that food is political. 

The note posted on Tastebud’s website, which has gone viral, called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and surfaced weeks after the deaths of anti-ICE protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“Ice out everywhere,” the notice said.

“Food is political. No one is illegal on stole land. F—k Ice. Abolish Ice.”

The note then started to ramble about issues such as the Epstein files and transgender politics.

“Release the Trump/Epstein files. Free Palestine. Black Lives Matter. Trans women are women. Love your LGBTQ+ neighbors. The Holocaust was real,” the unhinged tirade continued.

Website visitors met with the note before they could subscribe to the restaurant’s newsletter. 

Critics accused the restaurant of choosing politics over pies, with some promising to boycott the establishment.

The restaurant faced a torrent of backlash online and the note has since been toned down.

“Since receiving attention for our statement, we have experienced a surge of hateful, harassing, and abusive reviews, calls, and emails. This is concerning for our staff, our family, and our guests,” a Tastebud spokesperson told Fox News.

The restaurant told the outlet all diners are welcome.

“Food is political because care has become political,” the toned-down note says.

Trump and Epstein mentions have been nixed and the restaurant claims it stands for human rights, equality, science and collective care. 

“Waiting is not caution. Silence is not neutrality. Both are permission,” it says.

“Our country does not survive because it is written down. It survives only if people refuse to endure its unraveling.”

Anti-ICE protester Renee Good was fatally shot by agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis last month.

Armed anti-ICE protester and ICU nurse Alex Pretti died after being shot by Customs and Border Protection officials in Minneapolis – two weeks after Good’s death.

The restaurant claimed Good and Pretti had been murdered in plain sight, according to a Jan.30 Facebook post.

Українська акторка Анастасія Пустовіт, яка відома за серіалами “Шлях”, “Перші ластівки” та “Тиха Нава” заговорила про своє особисте життя.

Виявилося, що зірка вже чотири роки у стосунках з військовим. Її коханий став на захист України з перших днів повномасштабної війни, тому пара рідко бачиться. За словами акторки, вона намагається приїжджати на зустрічі, за можливістю, адже бути на відстані їм дуже важко.

“Чотири роки ми живемо окремо по факту. Люди за чотири роки проходять там переїзди, якісь ще штуки, спільні свята, підготовка до свят. Ми нічого з цього всього не проходили. І я не витримую, і я не витримувала, і потім знову витримувала, і потім знову не витримувала. І такі гойдалки були… Дуже складно. Дуже”, – наголосила Анастасія в інтерв’ю журналістці Аліні Доротюк. 

Акторка додала, що любить свою роботу, однак зараз для неї стосунки на першому місці. Тому вона завжди з обранцем на зв’язку та розповідає про всі події, що відбуваються у її житті. 

“Перша людина, яка дізнається про все, що відбувається в моєму житті, це він. Найперший, а потім вже там батьки та інші. Про якісь мої перемоги, поразки, якісь кризові ситуації, якісь мої злості. Я про все йому кажу, і він мені, я сподіваюсь, теж каже про все”, – зазначила Пустовіт.

Нагадаємо, раніше Анастасія Пустовіт розповіла про лікування у психіатричній лікарні.

Вас також можуть зацікавити новини: