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Information About Back 40 CYANIDE
From the Eagle Herald, 7-29-17:
Dear Editor,
Following is a piece of information that residents of this area seem to be overlooking but should instead be paying very close attention to:
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines:
- Cyanide: Any of various salts or esters of hydrogen cyanide containing a CN group, especially the extremely poisonous compounds of potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide.
- Potassium cyanide: An extremely poisonous white compound KCN, used in the extraction of gold and silver from ores.
- Sodium cyanide: A poisonous white crystalline compound NACN, used in extracting gold and silver from ores.
It has already been determined that these poisons will be used in the mining process at the Back Forty Mine site.
According to the American Medical Association Medical Guide:
- Lead poisoning: Lead is a powerful poison, and workers exposed to high concentrations of the metal may develop damage to their kidneys or nervous systems. There is a public health problem of lead poisoning, especially of children, from lead-based paint found in older homes and buildings, and from water pipes into tap water.
Check out PBS’ NOVA “Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan” documentary, produced by Kevin Lavery.
On a sidenote, pulverized rock can contain lead which would be taken out along with other minerals in the mining process.
There are more, many more, health problems that could arise as the result of mining. Check it out yourself online or at our local libraries. You should not want this for your children, the elderly, or even yourself. Educate yourself and then stand up for what is good and right.
Carole J. Boerner
Marinette/Menominee