A total of 33 different soil metals and characteristics were measured in the soil in Creighton and Flin Flon, along with soil at Bakers Narrows and Cranberry Portage.

Soil samples collected at certain locations in Flin Flon contained more arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, selenium, zinc, and thallium than recommended soil quality guidelines. In Creighton, concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were found to be above the national guidelines for human health in some of the test sites.

In general, the highest metal levels were recorded at sites in Flin Flon (near and to the northeast of the smelter). The highest metal levels in Creighton were found in the northeast part of town, south of the tailings facility.

Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting has operated a base metal mining and smelting facility in Flin Flon since 1930. The main sources of the metals are probably atmospheric emissions from the smelter (smoke stacks) as well as dust from the complex site and the tailings management area located north of Creighton.

The soil study determined that a number of sites in Flin Flon and Creighton exceeded the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for some metals.

• It was determined that a number of sites in Flin Flon and Creighton exceeded the CCME standards for some metals.
• The highest levels of contamination were usually found on undeveloped land and boulevards.
• The highest levels were recorded at sites in Flin Flon - usually in the core area near the smelter and the northeast.
• Significant levels in Creighton were found in the northeast part of the community, south of the tailings management area.
• The metal levels decreased with distance away from the smelter.