Scientists warn Manitoba wildfires may release toxic metals from peatlands, urging urgent research into long-term health and environmental risks.
Scientists Warn of Hidden Dangers in Peatland Wildfires
A growing number of scientists are raising concerns that wildfire smoke in Manitoba may contain more toxic pollutants than previously understood. As wildfires scorch peatland-rich areas of the province, researchers say historic industrial contamination could be re-released into the air, posing potential health risks and demanding urgent scientific attention.
Concerns Tied to Ancient Pollution and Industrial Legacy
Researchers like Dr. Colin McCarter, Canada Research Chair in Climate and Environmental Change, say that Manitoba’s extensive peatlands—covering nearly one-third of the province—may act as reservoirs for heavy metals and pollutants deposited over centuries. Many of these toxins, including lead, arsenic, and mercury, were released by decades of mining and smelting in northern communities such as Flin Flon.
“Peatlands are regional sinks for toxic metals,” McCarter explained. “When they burn, they may unleash pollutants stored over thousands of years.”
Fires Burn Through Contaminated Ground Near Flin Flon
The largest active wildfire in Manitoba—spanning over 347,000 hectares—recently forced the evacuation of Flin Flon, a community located 760 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. Once home to a major copper-zinc smelter that operated from the 1920s to 2010, the area has long been identified as a hotspot for environmental contamination.
Environment and Climate Change Canada previously reported that while active, the Flin Flon smelter was the country’s top atmospheric source of mercury emissions.
Smoke May Carry Toxic Metals to Human Lungs
Michael Schindler, an earth sciences professor at the University of Manitoba, warns that toxic particles—normally locked in the soil—can attach to fine smoke particulates, allowing them to enter the human respiratory system.
“The smoke acts like a Trojan horse,” said Schindler. “It carries metals like lead, selenium, and mercury deep into the lungs, magnifying health risks.”
In 2023, elevated selenium levels in a nearby lake prompted limits on fish consumption, linking pollution to past industrial activity. With fires burning into contaminated soil and peat, experts say that potentially dangerous exposure is no longer hypothetical.
Flin Flon Residents Call for Transparency and Monitoring
Long-time Flin Flon resident and former geologist Dave Price, who helped restore land damaged by smelter emissions, said the recent fire burned hot enough to reach deep into the contaminated peat layer.
“We need monitoring to track what’s in the smoke,” Price urged. “This isn’t just about trees burning. The fire is releasing buried toxins.”
More than 5,000 residents were allowed to return to Flin Flon last month, but scientists caution that without further study, long-term health impacts remain uncertain.
Calls for More Research and Public Health Oversight
As wildfire smoke continues to spread across North America and even beyond, researchers stress the importance of understanding local exposure risks—especially in communities near former industrial sites.
“This isn’t just a climate issue—it’s a public health issue,” said Schindler. “We need studies to determine if residents in places like Flin Flon face greater risks than those elsewhere.”
Experts are urging government agencies to invest in field research and environmental monitoring to quantify the full scope of wildfire-related pollution and safeguard affected communities.
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