The Impacts of Environmental Contamination

Increasing industrial development is a known cause of environmental pollution and ecological disruption. Elders and other members of the Hollow Water First Nation and Manigitogan Metis communities have expressed concerns that the quality of the local water and wild foods may be adversely affected by the ongoing impacts of deforestation, cottage development, and gold mining within their traditional territories.

To assess the health of the water and wild foods, samples of 3 species of fish, 8 species of mammals and one plant species (blueberries) were collected and analysed for organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and 26 metals. Samples of the abdominal muscles of crayfish were also tested for arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc. A water quality survey was carried out in which surface water samples were analysed for soluble and particulate phosphorous, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, total Kjedhal nitrogen (TKN), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS). Finally, sediment samples were analysed for mercury, zinc, copper, arsenic, nickel, lead, cadmium, tin, and total organic carbon.

According to the results of this project, most contaminants in crayfish and other wild foods were below detectable levels. However, mercury levels were highest in top marine predators such as otters, marten, sauger and pickerel with many of the values exceeding the Health Canada consumption guidelines established for fish. To minimize mercury exposure, it was advised that community members should avoid older and top predatory animals. To reduce cadmium exposure, communities were recommended to consume muscle meat in preference to the liver and kidneys and consider cigarette smoke as a potential contributor to exposure.