Toxic Newfoundland mine update due

People in a central Newfoundland town will get an update on contamination from a nearby mine Wednesday evening.

Provincial government officials will be in Buchans at 8 p.m. totalk aboutthe potential health impact of a decades-old mine that closed in the 1980s.

Tests done on the soil in the area during the summer of 2009 found dangerously high levels of lead along with nine other toxic substances, including arsenic, copper and uranium.

The lead is what most concerns officials. Itcan damageto many organs and tissues, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, reproductive system and nervous system.

Children are especially sensitive to lead. In a developing body, leadcan cause permanent learning and behavioural disorders.

Last fall the provincial Health Department urged residents to have blood tests to look for lead contamination.

The government has alreadyannounced it will pay $9millionto help clean up the old mine site.