Greta Jimenez
Trail, British Columbia, has a long history of industrial pollution, particularly from the local Teck smelter, which emitted lead, arsenic, and 14 other chemicals. While efforts have been made to improve air quality, such as building a new smelter and controlling emissions, pollution issues persist. Residents still deal with contaminated soil, and air quality can fluctuate, with sensitive groups experiencing symptoms like throat irritation and difficulty breathing. Trail's air quality is monitored through various indices, and the city offers programs to help reduce health risks, such as blood testing for children and education on minimizing lead exposure.
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What You'll Learn
Teck's Trail Operations and emissions
Teck's Trail Operations, located in the community of Trail in British Columbia, is one of the world's largest fully integrated zinc and lead smelting and refining complexes. Teck is a leading Canadian resource company that has been operating for over 100 years, committed to responsible mining and mineral development, with world-class copper and zinc operations. Teck has a long-term sustainability strategy that includes goals in health and safety, climate change, responsible production, community engagement, and environmental remediation.
Since the 1970s, Teck has invested over $1.7 billion in a modernization program to improve operational and environmental performance at Trail Operations. This has resulted in a significant reduction in emissions, with a 99.5% reduction in lead stack emissions since 1997. Teck has also implemented the Fugitive Dust Reduction Program, which has achieved an 80% reduction in metals in community air since 2012.
To further reduce emissions and minimize environmental impact, Teck Trail Operations developed Effluent Management Improvement (EMI) projects worth $20 million, completed in 2021. These projects included the construction of a reservoir and a stormwater management pond to reduce the possibility of effluent incidents and protect the aquatic environment. Teck also actively monitors air quality at various locations throughout the Trail area, measuring metals and sulphur dioxide levels 24 hours a day. This data is used to take immediate action if community air levels rise and is reported to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
Teck is also developing a Wide Area Remediation Plan for the Lower Columbia River valley to address the impacts of historical air emissions from the smelter in Trail. This plan will incorporate recommendations from a Medical Health Officer to guide remediation measures for lead, addressing potential risks to human health and the environment. Teck's commitment to sustainability and responsible production is further demonstrated by Trail Operations achieving the Zinc Mark, the first smelting and refining facility globally to do so.
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Air quality and health implications
Trail, British Columbia, has a history of pollution from the local smelter, which is the area's largest private-sector employer. The pollution has included lead, arsenic, and 14 other chemicals. While the company responsible, Teck, has taken steps to control emissions, it has not stopped entirely. Air-quality monitoring sites in the Trail area have exceeded the hourly provincial target for sulphur dioxide, a toxic gas that can cause coughing and wheezing.
To tackle this issue, Teck has implemented a regular cleaning schedule to control dust and has worked with the province to develop community programs that help prevent exposure. These include covering bare areas with grass and shrubs, as well as providing education and home visits to advise residents on minimising lead risks. Annual blood lead testing of Trail's youngest residents has been in place since 1991. New parents are given vacuum cleaners and other supplies to reduce the buildup of tainted dust in their homes.
Despite these efforts, some residents still express concerns about the health implications of living in Trail. It is recommended that children in the area get tested for lead exposure every year. The ground around Trail is believed to be permanently toxic due to the chemicals released. Some individuals report experiencing respiratory issues and throat irritation due to the poor air quality.
While the air quality in Trail may not be life-threatening for most individuals, sensitive groups may experience symptoms with prolonged exposure. It is advised that those experiencing breathing difficulties or throat irritation reduce their time spent outdoors when pollution levels are high. Overall, while Trail has made significant progress in addressing its pollution issues, the legacy of contamination means that it continues to be an area of concern for residents and public health officials.
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Soil contamination and clean-up efforts
Trail, British Columbia, has been dealing with lead pollution for nearly a century. The pollution comes from Teck's Trail Operations, which include a smelter—the largest private-sector employer in the area. Teck has been fined millions of dollars for releasing contaminants into the Columbia River. In 2019, air-quality monitoring sites in the Trail area were the only ones in the provincial and Metro Vancouver air-monitoring programs to exceed the hourly provincial target for sulphur dioxide, a toxic gas.
Soil contamination in Trail, BC, is primarily caused by historical emissions from metallurgical facilities, mainly the local smelter, which have released metals, including lead, into the surrounding area. This has resulted in elevated levels of metals in the soil, particularly near the smelter. Teck, the company responsible for the pollution, is also responsible for developing and implementing a Soil Management Plan under the direction of the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy as per the Contaminated Sites Regulation of the Environmental Management Act.
The Soil Management Program, also known as the Trail Area Health and Environment Program (THEP), aims to address the historical impacts of soil contamination and reduce health risks for residents. The program includes soil testing, soil replacement projects, and ground cover improvements in yards and gardens. It also provides education and resources to help residents minimize lead exposure, such as vacuum cleaners, tips for maintaining lush lawns, and sandboxes for children to play in.
The Trail Area Health and Environment Program has made significant progress in recent years, completing more soil remediation projects than ever before. In 2019, the program completed 39 remediation projects and improved ground cover or provided vegetable garden replacements for up to 100 properties. Teck invested approximately $5 million in the soil management program that year, demonstrating its commitment to addressing the issue.
The program has received recognition and support from the community, with residents expressing their desire for more soil cleanup to improve health, aesthetics, and property values. The Healthy Family Healthy Homes program, which offers home visits from healthcare professionals to provide advice on lead prevention, has also been well-received by families with young children. While the pollution has not been entirely eliminated, the community's efforts to tackle it and the company's cooperation in remediation efforts are making a positive impact on the environment and the health of Trail's residents.
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Water contamination and legal action
Water contamination in Trail, British Columbia, has been a significant issue for decades, with the local smelter being a major source of pollution. Teck Metals Ltd., the operator of the smelter, has been fined and faced legal action for its role in contaminating the water and soil in the area.
In 2016, Teck Metals pleaded guilty to causing pollution in Trail and was expected to be hit with substantial fines. The company admitted to depositing deleterious substances and introducing business-related waste into the environment. This included the contamination of Stoney Creek and multiple historic slag heaps. Teck Metals has also been working on a groundwater remediation plan to address issues associated with historical activities, including contaminated landfills and a massive groundwater plume that has spread beneath Trail and the Columbia River.
In 2025, records revealed that Teck had been dumping approximately 1.6 to 3.6 tonnes of mercury annually into the river since 1940. Other toxic releases into the river included cadmium, zinc, lead, acid, and sodium hydroxide solution. These accidental spills and releases have had severe environmental and health impacts, with one resident of a contaminated area describing their painful experience of chronic cadmium poisoning.
Teck has faced legal consequences for its actions. In 2021, a Provincial Court of British Columbia judge fined the company $3.4 million for releasing contaminants into the Columbia River between 2013 and 2015. In 2023, Teck Coal Ltd. was named in a legal action in Montana, along with two other defendants, over selenium contamination from its British Columbia mines in US waters. Environmental groups from Montana and Idaho sought relief from the Board of Environmental Review's ruling, arguing that Montana state authorities illegally removed a regulation that set limits for selenium in Lake Koocanusa, which crosses the border from British Columbia into Montana.
In addition to Teck's legal actions, private well owners in British Columbia whose water supply is contaminated with PFAS have taken legal action. A class-action lawsuit has been filed, alleging causes of action in negligent design, nuisance, conspiracy, breach of the duty to warn, and breach of the Competition Act. This lawsuit provides a method for a large group of people with common claims to join together and seek justice cost-effectively. However, individuals can opt out of a class action and pursue independent legal action if they choose to do so.
The Trail Area Health and Environment Program (THEP) is working to support families in Trail to maintain a safe and active lifestyle. While lead reduction remains the main focus, studies have shown that the risk from other metals is very low to negligible. Annual Soil Management Plans are also being conducted under the direction of the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with Teck responsible for developing and seeking approval for a long-term Wide Area Remediation Plan. These plans aim to address the historical soil impacts in Trail and the surrounding area.
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Community programs to reduce lead exposure
Trail, British Columbia, has been tackling lead pollution for over 30 years. The Trail Area Health and Environment Program (THEP) has been working with families in the Trail area since 1989 to limit children's exposure to lead.
THEP offers resources and support to families who are expecting or have young children. Parents and caregivers with children aged three and under can receive in-home and daycare visits to learn how to reduce exposure for young children, as well as supplies to reduce indoor dust, such as a vacuum or dust buster kits. They also offer an annual voluntary blood lead testing clinic for children, which helps identify where more support is needed and potential sources of exposure. THEP's Air Quality Program, delivered by Teck Trail Operations, works to reduce lead in airborne dust.
Healthy Family Healthy Homes is another community program that offers families with young children home visits from a public health nurse and a professional from their home and garden team to talk about ways to prevent lead exposure. Families who participated in the program said they took steps to protect their children from lead based on what they learned during those visits.
The City of Trail also completes annual monitoring and maintenance of unpaved alleys, including grading and gravel placement. A recent study was conducted in seven unpaved alleys in Trail, which showed that lead levels in alleys are lower than historical levels. Residents with concerns about dusty conditions in adjacent unpaved alleys can report their concerns to the City's Grounds & Roads Superintendent.
Overall, the community programs in Trail, BC, have been successful in reducing lead exposure and improving air quality. Blood lead levels in pre-school children have dropped significantly, and the average blood lead level for children aged six to 36 months remains below 3 micrograms per decilitre.
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Frequently asked questions
The air quality in Trail, British Columbia, is generally acceptable for most individuals. However, certain pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, can cause coughing and wheezing even after short-term exposure. Sensitive groups may experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing and throat irritation with prolonged exposure.
The primary source of pollution in Trail, BC, is the local smelter, which has released contaminants into the surrounding area, including the Columbia River. Lead pollution from the smelter has been a particular concern, with residents still dealing with its impacts decades later.
Efforts to address pollution in Trail include soil replacement programs, education campaigns, and home visits by public health professionals to provide advice on reducing lead exposure. Annual blood lead testing for children has also been implemented. The company responsible for the pollution, Teck, has faced legal consequences and taken steps to control emissions.
The pollution in Trail, BC, has had a significant impact on the health of residents, particularly children. Blood testing for lead levels is recommended for youngsters, and new parents are provided with resources to minimise exposure. Sensitive individuals may experience respiratory issues and other health problems due to air pollution.
