For my Canadian friends.
Vaughn

Crown studies Murdochville beryllium poisoning case

     Kevin Dougherty
     Montreal Gazette

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Crown prosecutors are examining a report filed by the S?ret? du Qu?bec to decide
whether criminal charges will be laid against Noranda Inc. related to the
beryllium poisoning of 13 workers at Noranda's Murdochville foundry.

The provincial police force investigated the poisoning, acting on information
provided by the Commission de la sant? et la s?curit? du travail - Quebec
workplace health and safety commission.

The CSST released a report yesterday which said Noranda knew its Murdochville
foundry workers were exposed to quantities of beryllium exceeding the acceptable
level by between four and 1,000 times and took no steps to protect them.

Beryllium is a light precious metal than can cause berylliosis, a progressive
breathing difficulty similar to asbestosis or silicosis, or cancer.

After commercially exploitable deposits of copper at Noranda's Murdochville mine
were exhausted, the company processed copper waste, contaminated by beryllium,
at the smelter in the 1990s.

Marie Larue of the CSST explained that commission filed a complaint with the
police, because the statute of limitation on prosecutions by the CSST is one
year and it was too late for charges.