Residents in Whitehorse's newest and soon-to-be newest subdivisions could see their air polluted with toxic contaminants if the city permits Territorial Contracting Ltd. (TCL) to build a concrete batch plant and quarry in their area.

That's the opinion of longtime McLean Lake resident Bob Kuiper.

Last Thursday evening, he hosted a public meeting on the city's new zoning bylaw, which has yet to be passed, and TCL's plans to move its operations behind the Sleeping Giant Hill near McLean Lake.

During the meeting at Ecole Emilie-Tremblay, Kuiper said he opposes the city's plans for zoning the area behind the Sleeping Giant Hill for industrial purposes.

He said he disagrees with the plans because the prevailing winds sweeping over the area could carry toxic dust over nearby neighbourhoods, as Granger, Copper Ridge, Lobird and the yet-to-be-developed Beyond Copper Ridge are on the receiving end of those winds.

'I think it's clear that this type of industry is needed ... (but) I'm not satisfied that air quality concerns have been addressed,' he said.

Kuiper told the more-than 20 people attending the meeting that he wanted to hear their comments, either for or against the proposal.

Kuiper also distributed literature to meeting attendees highlighting some concerns, including how the project would affect air quality.

'Prevailing winds in Whitehorse blow from south to north. Any air pollution created (at the batch plant and quarry) will blow directly towards Copper Ridge, Granger, Beyond Copper Ridge, Hillcrest and Lobird.

'Concrete dust contains crystalline silica, which has been designated a level one carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer,' states the literature available at the meeting.

'Once Granger, Copper Ridge and Beyond Copper Ridge are fully developed, they will have over 2,500 residences ... (worth) at least $500 million.'

According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), concrete dust can cause a number of human illnesses including cancer, chronic bronchitis and silicosis.

'Different cements have different ingredients. Many of them contain substances that can be hazardous, like silica, lime, gypsum, nickel, cobalt, and chromium compounds.

'(Cancer is caused) from the small amounts of chromium compounds found in some cements,' CDC information states.

Chronic silicosis, according to the CDC, 'is rarely seen in workers with less than 10 years' exposure ... (and) it permanently damages your lungs.'

Silicosis also increases your chance of getting tuberculosis, says the CDC.

According to the city's draft bylaw, Zoning Bylaw 2006-01, the area behind Sleeping Giant Hill near McLean Lake is slated to become an Industrial Quarry (IQ) zone.

The area surrounding the parcel identified by TCL currently has a number of quarries in operation.

IQ zones, according to the city's draft bylaw, are designed to 'provide a site for the onsite removal, extraction, and primary processing of soil and aggregate materials found on or under the site.'

The principle uses allowed to occur on an IQ site, the draft bylaw states, are concrete and asphalt plants, and natural resource extraction.

TCL and a consultant working with the company were unavailable to comment on the concerns.