The Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) process began in July 2007, upon release of the Manitoba Conservation soil study.

Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc., the consultant HBMS has hired to conduct the study, began by gathering existing soil-related information and identifying gaps in the data that need to be filled to gain a fuller understanding of the situation.

The “Literature Review and Data Gap Analysis” involved a review of all available primary scientific literature, reports prepared and data collected by government agencies and information provided by HBMS. Intrinsik has used this information to determine what additional sampling and analysis is required to adequately assess exposure and risk to people in the affected areas.

To fill in the data gaps, community-specific studies are being designed and implemented to measure metal levels in local soil, water, air, dust and food.

The results of this sampling program will be used to estimate daily lifetime exposures to the contaminants under study and the potential to affect local community health.