[Elaine MacDonald] said toxic metals are an obvious health concern, since they can cause brain damage in fetuses and young children. She compared NPRI emissions with the U.S. Toxic Release Inventory and found there is no facility south of the border releasing more lead, mercury, arsenic or cadmium than Flin Flon's smelter.

"I don't think there's a local environmental group that's monitoring this issue," said MacDonald, who has a PhD in geo-environmental engineering and researches heavy-metal absorption in soils.

Alan Hair, vice-president of metallurgy, safety and health for HudBay, points to large-scale reductions HudBay made in 1993. He said the province limited the company's release of sulphur dioxide to 220,000 tonnes per year from 293,000 tonnes and slashed its release of particulate matter, which includes lead, to 2,500 tonnes per year from 5,000 tonnes.