Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) - Sellers Final Report 2014

HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH IN
ASUBPEESCHOSEEWAGONG NETUM ANISHINABEK

(GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION)

report prepared for
the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group

prepared by Patricia Sellers, PhD
December 2014

FINAL REPORT

The government is not a very trusted steward of the

land. Theyve had a hundred and forty one years, since
we signed the Treaty with them, to prove that they
are a good steward of the landthey continue to
license industry to extract resources from our land
with devastating results...it is all broken trust.

Chief Roger Fobister, Sr.
Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014
Correct citation for this docum ent:

Sellers, P. 2014. Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek
(Grassy Narrows First Nation). Report prepared for the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group. 61 p +
appendices.

ii
Acknowledgements

I would like to thank members of the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group for the opportunity to do
this work. I have learned much and am better for itI hope that reciprocity is found in its utility. I
would also like to thank the group and its colleagues, who procured, borrowed, found, scanned,
retrieved, sent, and submitted files and documents as part of the necessary and first centralization
process. I thank Anna Sanford for her vital assistance in this step and in the creation of a digital
database. I thank everyone who provided feedback on the interim report.

iii
FOREWARD

The people of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (ANA, also known as Grassy Narrows First
Nation) were poisoned by mercury released into the Wabigoon-English River system in the 1960s.
The source was the uncontrolled discharge of effluent from a chlor-alkali plant upstream at Dryden,
Ontario. Since that time, there have been many, many studies on the effects of this discharge on both
the river system and the people. The published work of those studies is contained largely within
reports and journal articles that date back to the early 1970s.

My task was to review all the available and published work related to human and ecological health
with respect to ANA and to provide a synthesis. The bulk of this report is thus two sections: Human
Health Research to Date and Ecological Health Research to Date. I was also asked to identify gaps
in the published work and a make a list of recommendations for next steps and/or future studies. The
gaps and recommendations are the practical components of this report and, at the request of the
ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group, are presented first. Throughout the report, and where
necessary, I drew from outside literature to provide context and to help propel ongoing or revived
discussions.

Readers should be mindful that this report is a reflection of the relevant information available and in
published form, and available at the time of writing. What is not included are a) community-based
observations, information, and knowledge that are not published, b) studies that are underway or not
yet published c) media publications and d) publications not obtainable within the timeframe of this
task. As such readers are encouraged, where possible, to supplement, update, or revise this
document with relevant information that s/he has access to.

iv
CONTENTS

FOREWARD ..................................................................................................................................... iv
1. RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................. 1
For Human Health Initiatives ........................................................................................................ 1
For ecological Health Initiatives .................................................................................................... 2
For Education and Awareness Initiatives ..................................................................................... 3
For design and implementation of research initiatives ............................................................... 4
2. GAPS ............................................................................................................................................ 5
GAPs Research Methods ............................................................................................................... 6
GAPS In Communication, Education and Awareness ................................................................... 8
GAPS In Information and Knowledge ........................................................................................... 9
Human Health ........................................................................................................................ 9
Ecological Health .................................................................................................................. 12
3. HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH TO DATE ....................................................................................... 15
Evidence of mercury exposure: blood and hair levels of mercury ............................................ 15
Exposure and Development of Symptoms ................................................................................. 16
Symptoms of mercury Poisoning in Adults ................................................................................ 17
Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning in Children and Infants ......................................................... 18
Childhood Development ............................................................................................................. 18
Incidence of Mortality and Disease ............................................................................................ 19
Health Services ............................................................................................................................ 19
Diet .............................................................................................................................................. 19
Fish consumption advisories ...................................................................................................... 22
Effectiveness of fish consumption advisories ............................................................................ 23
4. STATE OF HUMAN HEALTH ........................................................................................................ 25
Community Health ...................................................................................................................... 25
5. ECOLOGICAL HEALTH RESEARCH TO DATE ................................................................................ 27
Mercury Studies .......................................................................................................................... 28
Joint study by Canada and Ontario research teams in the late 1970s ............................... 28
Mercury in fish ..................................................................................................................... 29
Mercury in crayfish ............................................................................................................... 31
Mercury in sediment ............................................................................................................ 32
Mercury in water .................................................................................................................. 34
Mercury in birds ................................................................................................................... 34
Mercury in many wild foods ................................................................................................ 35
Studies of contaminants other than mercury ............................................................................ 37
Non-mercury contaminants in wild foods ........................................................................... 37
Contaminants causing intersex fish in the Wabigoon River ................................................ 39
Field observations of water quality ..................................................................................... 40
The Whiskey Jack Forest ............................................................................................................. 40
Traplines ............................................................................................................................... 41
Field observations by trappers and hunters ........................................................................ 42
6. STATE OF ECOLOGICAL HEALTH ................................................................................................ 43

Health of the Water .................................................................................................................... 43
Current levels of sediment mercury and Sediment Water Quality Guidelines .................. 43
Current levels of crayfish mercury and Tissue Residue Guidelines .................................... 45
Current levels of fish mercury and Tissue Residue Guidelines ........................................... 45
Health of the Land ...................................................................................................................... 45
Health of The Whiskey Jack Forest ...................................................................................... 46
Health of the animal populations ........................................................................................ 47
Contaminants in animals ...................................................................................................... 47
Looking ahead: Linking the Land and the Water ........................................................................ 48
Looking ahead: Linking land and water management ............................................................... 49
7. ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT (ERA) AND THE WABIGOON RIVER ........................................ 50
8. REMEDIATION OF THE WABIGOON RIVER REVISITED ............................................................... 52
Natural recovery ......................................................................................................................... 52
The role of Clay Lake in natural recovery ................................................................................... 52
The good news and bad news of Clay Lake ................................................................................ 53
Early remediation studies and proposals ................................................................................... 53
Contemporary context for renewed discussions ....................................................................... 54
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 56
APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................. 62
Appendix A. Map of the Wabigoon-English River system .......................................................... 62
Appendix B. Partial list of publications relevant to pre-natal exposure to mercury ................. 63
Appendix C. Biography of P. Sellers ............................................................................................ 65
vi
1. RECOMMENDATIONS

The recommendations that follow are based on Section 2 (GAPS) of this report. I have limited the
number of recommendations to forty, but there are likely others that could be formulated.

FOR HUMAN HEALTH INITIATIVES

1) Conduct a comprehensive health survey. This is necessary for the design and implementation of
many other health initiatives;

2) Conduct a diet survey. A diet survey would provide good data for the design and implementation
of food programs targeted at increasing the consumption of traditional foods while minimizing
exposure to mercury through fish. The patterns of consumption of fish from community-lakes vs.
northern lakes, walleye vs. other fish, and wild foods (including fish) vs. market-foods are largely a
function of age and income levels (J. Dasilva, pers. comm., Nov. 2014) and food-security
programs need to reflect this;

3) Evaluate and expand on current nutrition, and food security programs. Programs targeted at
discouraging or encouraging the consumption of preferred fish (for example, walleye) from
certain lakes need to reflect the reality that many people do not have the means (boats, trailers,
trucks) by which to fish lakes that are away from the community or off the Wabigoon-English
River system. All programs need to be culturally inherent so that culture is not further eroded but
enhanced;

4) Introduce programs that assist harvesters in accessing targeted sites and/or incorporating more
wild foods. These could include, but not limited to, means of transportation, equipment,
incentives and subsidies.

5) Collect data among infants on i) probability of exposure through maternal consumption of fish ii)
the occurrence of symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning and iii) their development into an
beyond childhood;

6) Collect data on the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging among the
people of ANA and compare these with a reference community or population;

7) Include biochemically sensitive biomarkers (in addition to or instead of hair and blood) in
assessment of mercury exposure. Chan and Mergler (2010, p. 10) describe how the biochemical
marker, monoamine oxidase activity (measured in blood platelet samples) can be used as a
sensitive indicator of mercury-induced alterations to the nervous system;

Given the need to understand the effects of low dose mercury exposure at all ages, and that
other studies have shown latency between exposure and the manifestation of clinical
symptoms, this biochemical testing could become a very effective tool and could be explored as
an early warning system to be added to ongoing efforts in ANA of reducing mercury exposure;

8) Provide an update on trend data collected by Health Canada. Wheatley et al (1997) provided a
20-year trend in mercury exposure data (blood, hair, and umbilical cord blood data collected by
HC). The most recent data collection year in that study was 1996.1 Assuming data collection has
continued, these trend lines need to be updated and published to give an updated version of
long-term exposure patterns. If data collection has not continued then this should be resumed
among consenting individuals; and

9) Amalgamate and analyze all the human health data collected on the people of ANA to date. This
could include, but not be limited to, records held by clinics, hospitals, and medical offices and
might provide useful information for long-term planning.

FOR ECOLOGICAL HEALTH INITIATIVES

10) Collect data (whole water mercury and water flow rates) necessary for calculation of transport of
mercury from upstream (within river and from logged catchment) to downstream sites;

11) Determine the potential and/or study the effects of logging on downstream water quality;

12) Measure and monitor standard water quality parameters (total suspended solids, particulate
organic carbon, turbidity and dissolved oxygen) at key sites in the Wabigoon-English River;

13) Collect data on the present-day contribution (if any) of effluent at Dryden to mercury in the
Wabigoon River;

14) Determine the temporal trend in sediment mercury in Seguise, Lount, and Separation Lakes;

15) Determine the current level of mercury in surface sediment of the Wabigoon River upstream of
Clay Lake. This will be necessary information for assessment of ecological risk and remediation
discussions;

16) Determine the levels of mercury in the crayfish of Clay Lake and the south basin of Ball Lake;

17) Establish long-term sites for monitoring of mercury in crayfish and begin data collection;

18) Continue monitoring of mercury levels in fish at long-term monitoring sites;

1
A citation search on this paper (conducted in June 2014) revealed no publication to include the last two
decades of data.

19) Begin long-term monitoring of mercury levels in fish from Garden and Grassy Narrows Lakes and
other popular subsistence fishing lakes not yet including in long-term monitoring;

20) Include fish gonad collection during routine fish harvesting in Clay Lake and have gonads analysed
for evidence of intersex fish;

21) Evaluate the occurrence of swimmers itch and cyanotoxins in Garden Lake;

22) Collect data on the occurrence of symptoms of diseases in targeted forest animals;

23) Update the state of forest habitat and health in ANAs territory;

24) Establish goals for forest, forest habitat, and forest species renewal and long-term health; and

25) Ensure that any discussion of remediation of the Wabigoon River is comprehensive and robust.

FOR EDUCATION AND AWARENESS INITIATIVES

26) To enhance the awareness of outside researchers of i) the culture of the people of ANA and ii)
the historical context in which outsiders and their messages are received, especially the historical
relationship between settler governments and ANA;

27) To enhance the recognition, understanding, and acceptance by outsiders that walleye is, and will
likely remain, a preferentially consumed fish for cultural, historical, geographical, economical, and
gastronomical reasons;

28) Create opportunities for the training of outside scientists in cross-cultural research and in working
with Indigenous Knowledge holders;

29) To review and evaluate existing communication strategies regarding the risk and benefits of fish
and other wild food consumption and to revise where necessary. Communications need to

a. be culturally appropriate and inherent;
b. target reproductive women;
c. include communication on the effects of mercury exposure on people of all ages;
d. include discussion of the importance of eating traditional foods; and
e. be in concert with initiatives aimed at securing alterative nutritious and safe foods for
those who fish consumption is dictated by circumstance.

30) To review and evaluate the effectiveness of fish consumption guidelines and revise where
necessary to i) ensure that advisories are culturally appropriate and inherent and ii) focus on lake-
specific and fish-specific advice for those who choose to heed the advice;

31) Enhance education initiatives aimed at identifying the wild foods or food combinations safe and
beneficial to eat; and

32) To produce plain language summaries of reports (for which none exist) if warranted by the
expressed interest of the people of ANA, particularly the Elders;

33) To expand the ANA-literature database associated with this report such that literature not yet
captured be included.

FOR DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH INITIATIVES

34) To ensure that future studies in ANA are coordinated, duplication is minimized, and outcomes
and benefits to the community are maximized;

35) To ensure the research is community-driven and community-controlled;

36) To engage existing research skills among the people of ANA;

37) To enhance research skills and knowledge among the people of ANA, particularly in the area of
environmental monitoring and other areas for which this has underway;

38) To allow for face-to-face knowledge sharing among outside researchers, scientists, government
personnel and the people of ANA;

39) To allow for collaboration between Indigenous Knowledge and western science and the
acknowledgement of the contributions of Indigenous Knowledge to research outcomes; and

40) To have a community-based research station to coordinate all of the above recommendations.

2. GAPS

This section lists identified gaps (i.e. whats missing) in work and research conducted in ANA. I use
the word gap very broadly to include missing pieces, weaknesses or opportunities that might help
to guide further research or work in the community. Some of these are versions of gaps identified by
the authors of the literature reviewed. Because the published literature is not up to date in all topics,
this means that some of the gaps listed below may have already been addressed or filled.

The gaps are eventually sorted into three categories. The first is Research Methods, which identifies
weakness in the ways research has been conducted in ANA. The second is Communication, Education
and Awareness, with a focus on communication among people of ANA, among outsiders, and
between the people of ANA and outsiders. The third section is Information and Knowledge, which
focuses on areas for which more study is warranted. This third section is further divided into two:
Human Health and Ecological Health. Table 1 is a summary table of this section.

Table 1. Gaps at a glance
Gaps in Research Methods

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

A coherent and coordinated research framework

Community-driven and community-controlled research
Culturally inherent and culturally appropriate methods
The acknowledgement of the value and local authority of Indigenous Knowledge
Opportunities for government personnel and scientists to engage in face-to-face
knowledge sharing with Indigenous Knowledge holders
Adequate sample size in human health studies
Gaps in Communication, Education and Awareness

g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)

Opportunities for the training of outside scientists in cross-cultural research

Awareness of benefits and risks of eating local fish
Effective (culturally inherent and appropriate) fish consumption guidelines
A focus on which local fish can be eaten
Availability of Tolerable Intake Guidelines (as opposed to ppm guidelines).
Effective risk awareness campaign targeting reproductive women
Retroactive plain language summaries
Gaps in Information and Knowledge: Human Health

n) Data for assessment of the current state of human health
o) The occurrence of fetal and infant mercury poisoning in ANA
p) The effect of mercury exposure on development of children in ANA

q) The effects of low-dose, long-term exposure to mercury among adults in ANA
r) The link between mercury exposure and the development of neurodegenerative diseases
associated with aging
s) Adequate and appropriate diet information

Gaps in Information and Knowledge: Ecological Health

t) Current levels of mercury in the surface sediment of the Wabigoon River;
u) An ecological risk assessment for sediments of the Wabigoon River;
v) The relative contribution of the Wabigoon River as a source of sediment mercury to
downstream basins and/or downstream bioaccumulation
w) The understanding of how logging affects water quality in ANAs territory
x) The current contribution of Dryden effluent to mercury in the Wabigoon River
y) Data for mercury in whole water samples in ANAs territory
z) The temporal trend in sediment mercury in Seguise Lake
aa) The temporal trend in sediment mercury in Lount and Separation Lakes
bb) Rates of sediment burial of mercury in selected lake basins
cc) Mercury levels in the crayfish of Clay Lake and the south basin of Ball Lake
dd) Mercury levels in the crayfish at targeted sites throughout ANAs territory.
ee) The status of the sturgeon, moose, and caribou populations in ANAs territory.
ff) The presence or absence of intersex fish in Clay Lake
gg) The suitability of Garden Lake for swimming
hh) Understanding of reasons for the symptoms of diseases in animals
ii) Current state of forest habitat and health
jj) Use and occupancy data of ANAs traplines
kk) The relationship between patterns in sediment mercury and food web mercury
ll) Water quality data in ANAs territory
mm) Data for mercury levels in fish of lakes not included in routine, long-term monitoring

GAPS RESEARCH METHODS

a) A coherent and coordinated research framework . There have been different
researchers/research teams (government, university, consulting firms, individuals) over the
decades working in ANA, each of which had a different topic, agenda, method, style, funding
source, professional opinion and communication plan. This piece-meal approach to studies in
ANA has lead to some confusion among some people (both within and outside ANA) trying to
make sense of it all. Evidence for this is the need for this report.2 Such a research framework
needs to be rooted in the needs, culture, and history of the people of ANA, and to be flexible
enough to respond to changing needs, and respond to the complexity of the linkages between
human and environmental health. It most definitely would require stable funding, as piecemeal
funding lends itself to piecemeal work.

b) Com m unity-driven and com m unity-controlled research. Over the years there has been
a shift from the deployment of parachute researchers to community-based research, then to
community-driven research. This latter approach is the best and needs to continue. It requires
the directive, guidance, and approval from the community in all aspects right from the start.
Efforts made in this direction have already resulted in positive outcomes, such as i) capacity-
building in the community ii) improved relations between outside and community researchers
and iii) better research.

c) Culturally inherent and culturally appropriate m ethods. Forty-two years ago in an
analysis of the commercial fisheries in northwestern Ontario Edward Rogers wrote

It is obvious than an economically viable system, which no doubt will need subsidy in part,
must be established but within the framework of Ojibwa attitudes, thoughts and values. These
must be accounted for and allowed expression if the economic system is to be meaningful to
the Ojibwa [emphasis added]3

In the subject of Indigenous Knowledge research, Simpson and DaSilva (2009) also emphasize the
necessity for the inclusion of culturally inherent and culturally appropriate methods. In part this
means the need for research efforts to stem from and be conducted within Indigenous and
Anishinabe frameworks.

d) The acknowledgement of the value and local authority of Indigenous Knowledge.
Simpson and DaSilva (2009) and Simpson et al (2009) highlight the need for western science (and
its scientists) to treat Indigenous Knowledge (and its Knowledge Holders) as equals when
designing, conducting, or reporting research. This includes an emphasis on the value of the
knowledge Elders have, the role they must play in all decision-making processes, and respecting
protocol and agreements for distribution of knowledge.

e) Opportunities for government personnel and scientists to engage in face-to-face
knowledge sharing with Indigenous Knowledge holders. This gap was identified during

2
Interestingly, 40 years ago Dr. Bernstein undertook a similar task (Bernstein et al, 1973) and concluded: the
federal governments approach to the special problems of White Dog and Grassy Narrows is
fragmented and lacks cohesion and called for a coordinated effort.
Rogers (1972).
an Elders gathering held in ANA in 2009 (Simpson and DaSilva, 2009). Face-to-face knowledge
sharing needs to be based in mutual respect and sensitivity. This dialogue is needed to dispense
and clarify misperceptions, establish good working relationships, enhance understanding of both
knowledge systems, and enhance opportunities for western science to work for ANA.

f)
Adequate sam ple size in hum an health studies. There are many, many things (that is.
variables) that affect human health. That means any human health study needs to include large
samples sizes (that is, lots of people) so that the data can be analysed statistically. Some of the
earlier studies have been weak in this regard.

GAPS IN COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

g) Opportunities for the training of outside scientists in cross-cultural research.
Outside scientists working in communities usually do not have the appropriate experience or
training to work effectively in Indigenous communities. Face-to-face knowledge sharing
opportunities would facilitate this. In environmental research in Canada, the collaboration
between Indigenous Knowledge Holders and Scientists is an emerging field and ANA has an
opportunity to lead this.

h) Awareness of benefits and risks of eating local fish. Evidently some people are still not
aware that locally caught fish may not be safe to eat, or that some fish are safe to eat. Any
measure to increase this awareness must be done in a manner that does not create fear, allows
consumers to make informed choices about the size, amount and type of fish, and augments
other efforts and programs targeted at strengthening the consumption of traditional foods and
engaging in traditional foodways.

i) Effective (culturally inherent and appropriate) fish consumption guidelines. As
early as Bernstein et al (1973) concluded that ways and means to improve communications with
the Indian people are necessary to impart knowledge of the mercury situation, to discourage
eating fish, and to encourage interest in diet and nutrition. In a more recent report on the
results of an Elders gathering, Simpson and DaSilva (2009) found that one of the reasons fish
consumption guidelines are not effective is because they are not presented in ways that work for
the people. Text-based guidelines written in English and dispersed by an outside government do
not work, especially for Elders and Elders who do not read English.

j) A focus on which local fish can be eaten. Contemporary reports of mercury levels in fish
separate out different fish types in different lakes (Grand Council Treaty #3), and different fish
lengths (Chan et al, 2005, Kinghorn et al, 2007, Neff et al, 2012). If warranted, this information
can be used to create community-based maps (or other media, possibly a phone app that could
be used in the field) that encourage fish-specific, lake-specific, and size-specific fish consumption.

k) Availability of Tolerable Intake Guidelines (as opposed to ppm guidelines). In

addition to guidelines based on the level of mercury in fish, guidelines on how many fish and of
what size people could safely eat in the course of a week or month would also be useful. This is
because exposure is a function of both how much fish is consumed and how much mercury is in
the consumed fish. Intake guidelines need to be specific to lakes and fish types, and would be
especially useful to people who prepare fish meals. Chan et al (2005) provide the first attempt at
this for ANA.

l) Effective risk awareness campaign targeted reproductive women . Given that
i.
the adverse effects of pre-natal mercury exposure on infant and child development are
well understood from other studies (Chan and Mergler (2010) cite about 42
publications; Appendix A);
ii.
the contemporary (verbal) reports of a disproportionate number of miscarriages and
babies born with abnormal neurological (such as muscle twitching) or other birth
defects; and
iii.
the contemporary (verbal) reports of some women in ANA eating fish while pregnant
and/or nursing,

there seems to be substantial room for improvement on the education and awareness targeting
reproductive, pregnant and nursing women (and their food providers) on the importance of a
healthy diet and lifestyle, with special consideration for an avoidance of mercury exposure
through fish. Such awareness initiatives have to be coupled with food-security programs that
offer nutritional alternatives while not eroding the cultural importance and significance of eating
fish.

m) Retroactive Plain Language Sum m aries. A need for retroactive plain language summaries
and/or verbal presentations of earlier reports exists. This is important for the sake of
communication and may be important to those Elders4 playing a key role in guiding future
research initiatives.

GAPS IN INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
Human Health

n) Data for the assessm ent of the current state of human health. The most
comprehensive health assessment was conducted in the late 1980s (Postl, 1989), effectively one
generation ago and much has changed in ANA since then. Historically, mercury exposure and its

4
At the June 2014 meeting of the ANA-Mercury Working Group one Elder said that her baby was tested in a
study 30 years ago but no one told them what the results were and that she still wonders about that. I
have heard this comment before from other Elders in other community meetings.

effects have been a major concern but other diseases or sicknesses, which may or may not be
linked to mercury exposure, have since been identified as prevalent (Judy Dasilva, pers. comm.).
Health surveys need to keep pace with changes in community health.

A comprehensive health survey could be coupled with efforts at better understanding the effect
of mercury exposure. Indeed, the need of comprehensive health surveys in areas affected by
mercury exposure was emphasized by Chan and Mergler (2010, p. 27) who write many of the
health complaints from the affected population have not been properly diagnosed and
documented. It is important to have data from comprehensive health surveys in affected areas to
have a better understanding of health effects. [emphasis added].

o) The occurrence of fetal and infant mercury poisoning in ANA. No studies have been
conducted in ANA on the effects of pre-natal exposure to mercury and/or on the diagnosis of
fetal or infant Minamata disease (Harada et al, 2011) despite the widespread recognition that i)
fetuses and infants are considered the most at risk (therefore lower doses required to pose risk)
to exposure; ii) infants can show neurological disorders even when mothers have mild or no
neurological symptoms (Chan and Mergler, 2010; Harada et al, 2011) iii) the damaging effects of
mercury exposure on brain and child development is permanent; and iv) the possibility of
mercury exposure contributing to the early onset or rapid development of age-related diseases
such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers (Dr. Ben Bahr, UNC Pembroke, pers. comm. June 2014);

p) The effect of mercury exposure and childhood development in ANA. The
requirement for special surveillance of high risk moms and their infants was established by
Bernstein et al (1973) and the assessment of children in ANA suspected of prenatal exposure was
proposed in a report written by Prichard and McIntyre (1980). To date, no ongoing surveillance
program among children exposed to mercury prenatally has been referenced in the reviewed
publications.

In the only study conducted (Medical Services Branch, 1996, mercury and Child Development),
development issues among the children of ANA were identified but the authors were not able to
link these to mercury exposure using their methods.5 Tracking child development from birth is
the only way to truly study the effects of prenatal and infant exposure to mercury on childhood
development and this was not the method used.

Chan and Mergler (2010) cite about 42 publications and four studies (Faroe Islands, New Zealand,
Seychelles Islands and the US) that show prenatal exposure of mercury through fish consumption
negatively alters child development. In these studies hundreds of children were followed from

5
The Canadian study was retrospectively designed, which is to say it collected developmental and hair data in
one sampling year (1995 & 1996), and used umbilical cord data collected in 1978-1990 to construct
correlations. The researchers did not track individuals from birth, as was done in the foreign studies.

10
birth to three, 9, and 14 years of age. ANAs population is likely not large enough for cohort
studies but individual children could be tracked in a long-term, comprehensive study and
compared to a reference community.

The start of a reference list for the effects of pre-natal exposure to mercury can be found in
Appendix A.

q) The effects of low-dose, long-term exposure to mercury among adults in ANA. We
know little about the effects of low-dose exposure over the long-term. Harada et al (2005b)
identified this as a gap. Younger members of the neurological study conducted in ANA by Takaoka
et al (2014) could be identified and tracked as a means of helping to understand the effects of
low-dose, long-term exposure to mercury through food. Any study investigating effects of
mercury exposure would have to be comprehensive and include all the known outcomes of
mercury exposure (including cardiovascular disease) and account for co-morbidity from other
diseases (Chan and Mergler, 2010).

r) The link between mercury exposure and the development of neurodegenerative
diseases associated with aging. Studies on the neurological effects of mercury exposure in
ANA have largely been restricted to symptoms associated with mercury poisoning. As early as the
late 1970s, psychosis and dementia were identified as a late and severe effect of organic
mercury intoxication (Pritchard and McIntyre, 1980). In other studies, mercury exposure has also
been linked to Alzheimers disease (Fujimura et al, 2009; Dr. Ben Bahr UNC Pembroke, pers.
comm.) and in a paper published in 2006, Monnet-Tschudi et al write a considerable body of
evidence suggests that the heavy metals lead and mercury contribute to the etiology of
neurodegenerative diseases and emphasizes the importance of taking preventive measures in
this regard.

Two gaps are a) an understanding of relationship between mercury exposure and
neurodegenerative diseases and b) the inclusion of neurodegenerative disease symptoms in
disease surveys and assessments6 or other appropriate venues.

s) Adequate and appropriate diet information. There has been no comprehensive diet
survey conducted for ANA. What is known is that some people eat, to varying degrees, both
traditional and market foods. A diet survey will help in the design and implementation of
initiatives that encourage food security.

Cosway (2001) noted that dementia and psychosis are not among any of the diagnostic criteria used by any of
the five national and international agencies.
11
Ecological Health

t) Current levels of m ercury in the surface sedim ent of W abigoon River. This has not
been determined since 1980.

u) An ecological risk assessment for sediments of the W abigoon River . The limited
contemporary data suggest that Wabigoon River sediments between Clay Lake and Dryde exceed
guideline levels.

v) The relative contribution of the W abigoon River as a source of sedim ent mercury
to downstream basins and/or downstream bioaccumulation. The mercury in surface
sediment is increasing (in the two basins for which it was measured) downstream of Clay Lake.
The spatial pattern suggests that the Wabigoon River continues to be a source of mercury-rich
sediment to downstream sites.

w) The understanding of how logging affects water quality in ANAs territory. Logging
is widespread in ANAs territory. The wider literature indicates that logging can degrade water
quality and enhance mercury in the water and organisms but the effect of logging on lakes in
ANAs territory has not been studied.

x) The current contribution of Dryden effluent to m ercury in the W abigoon River.
The historical discussions tell us that by 1975, the discharge of mercury was reduced to 1% of its
uncontrolled value. While the 1% was encouraging, at the time it represented about 5 times
natural loading rates (Jackson et al, unpublished manuscript).

y) Data for mercury in whole water samples in ANAs territory. There are no current data
for mercury and mercury on whole water samples in ANAs territory. The last data were taken in
the late 1970s. While mercury in fish is the main concern from a human health and monitoring
perspective, whole water samples are needed in other applications.

z) The temporal trend in sediment mercury in Seguise Lake. Seguise Lake is between Clay
Lake, where surface sediment mercury is in a decline, and Ball Lake, where surface sediment
mercury is on the increase. It would be good to know what is going on in Seguise Lake. If it, too, is
in a decline, then this suggests that levels in the sediment in Ball Lake will eventually decline.

aa) The temporal trend in sediment mercury in Lount and Separation Lakes. These two
lakes are between Ball and Tetu Lakes, both of which show an increase in sediment mercury in
the past 30 years. Measurements in these basins would further reveal and confirm downstream-
upstream patterns in sediment mercury.

12
bb) Rates of sedim ent burial of mercury in selected lake basins. These data can be
calculated from dated sediment cores for which mercury is also measured. Rates of burial can be
used to estimate how much any one basin is acting as a site of burial of mercury.

cc) M ercury levels in the crayfish of Clay Lake and the south basin of Ball Lake. Data
for Clay Lake have not been collected since 1980 and data for Ball Lake since 2007. Data collected
from Clay Lake should show a decline in crayfish mercury while that for Ball Lake could show a
decline, stabilization, or increase.

dd) M ercury levels in the crayfish at targeted sites throughout ANAs territory.
Crayfish assimilate mercury very efficiently and excrete it very slowly (Headon et al, 1996), which
not only means that they biomagnify mercury from their food, but also that they can be used as
an effective bioindicator of food web mercury. Indeed, several investigators have identified
crayfish as one of the best bioindicators for reasons related to site-specificity, ease of capture,
ease of inclusion in community-based programming, and trophic position (Allard et al, 1989;
Parks et al, 1991; Schilderman et al, 1999).

ee) The status of the sturgeon, moose, and caribou populations in ANAs territory.
There exist no data on the population of many important animal species.

ff) The presence or absence of intersex fish in Clay Lake. The presence of intersex fish in
the Wabigoon River at Dryden in 2002, suggests the possibility, or the development of the
possibility, for sites further downstream. Although Pollock et al (2010) did not detect intersex fish
further (35 46 km) downstream of Dryden in 2002, certainly this phenomenon has the potential
to develop over time.

gg) The suitability of Garden Lake for swimming. Garden Lake is highly eutrophied, subject
to blooms of cyanobacteria (a.k.a. blue-green algae), and is used recreationally. Two human
health concerns associated with lakes in this condition are i) the development of swimmers itch
(caused by microscopic flatworms burrowing in skin) and ii) exposure to cyanotoxins (toxins
released by cyanobacteria). There is evidence of the occurrence of swimmers itch among the
children of ANA and of the existence cyanotoxins in Garden Lake.

hh) Understanding of reasons for the symptoms of diseases in anim als. Hunters,
trappers, and elders continue to report seeing signs of diseases in animals. With the main
exception of mercury in wild foods and animals associated with the aquatic food web, levels of
metals and organic contaminants are low, suggesting that they are not causing the observed
diseases.

ii) Current state of forest habitat and health. The latest data are about 10 years old.

13
jj) Use and occupancy data of ANAs traplines. Only one half the trapline holders
participated in the study conducted by Armitage et al (2010).

kk) The relationship between patterns in sediment mercury and food web mercury.
The degree to which the mercury in the surface sediment contributes to mercury production and
bioavailability to the food web of the same basin is not known. Understanding this may be
important in predicting levels of food web mercury in those basins showing a change in sediment
mercury.

ll) W ater quality data in ANAs territory. There are no published, standard surface water
quality data for ANAs territory. My visual observations tell me that this is warranted for key
parameters, namely total suspended solids, particulate organic carbon, sunlight, turbidity, and
oxygen levels.

mm) Data for m ercury levels in fish of lakes not included in routine, long-term
monitoring. Some of the lakes fished by people of ANA, such as the two that border the
community, are not yet included in routine monitoring programs.

14
3. HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH TO DATE

Most of the publications pertaining to health of the people of ANA are in the form of reports (12) or
journal articles (9). Table 2 indicates the breakdown by decade of publication and publication type.

Table 2. Number of publications (by decade and type) compiled by the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working
7
Group that pertain to human health.
Publication period
Reports
Journal Articles
Other
Up to 1980
1981 - 1990
1991 - 2000
2001 - 2010
2011 - present
4
1
1
6
0
2
0
1
3
3
2
0
0
1
0
Most of the publications were before 1980 and after 2000; there were few publications in the 1980s
and 1990s.

EVIDENCE OF MERCURY EXPOSURE: BLOOD AND HAIR LEVELS OF MERCURY

At least three different research teams have monitored mercury in hair and blood8 samples over the
years. They are Health Canada (originally led by Dr. Wheatley), a team of Japanese researchers (led by
the late Dr. Harada) and a team of researchers from McGill University (led by Dr. Chan). Table 3 is a
summary of the data collection efforts.

Table 3. Breakdown of mercury exposure data collected in ANA.
Data collection year
Type of mercury exposure data
Publication

1970, 1972-1973
1975
1970, 1972-1973, 1975
1975
1976 - 1994
1976 - 1996
1974 - 1996
1995 or 1996
2002, 2004
2003

Bernstein, 1973
Harada et al, 1976
Newberry, 1977
Newberry, 1977
Medical Services Branch, 1996
Wheatley et al, 1997
Wheatley et al, 1997
Medical Services Branch, 1996
Harada et al, 2005b
Chan et al, 2005

blood
hair, blood
blood
hair
(umbilical) cord blood
Hair converted to blood values, cord blood
Yearly hair in the same fishing guide
Hair of children
hair
hair

7
This is a minimum as more have surfaced since the original compilation.

8
Scientists have determined that most (85 100%) of the mercury in biological tissue is methyl mercury
(Mercury; (Renzoni et al., 1997; Dolbec et al., 2001)).
15
Blood

Bernstein et al (1974) report that the average concentration of mercury in blood (among 61
individuals) was 77.4 parts per billion (ppb) in 1970. In their presentation of yearly data, Wheatley et
al (1997) show that mercury in blood and (umbilical) cord blood have declined in both ANA and
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (WIN; also known as White Dog) between 1975 and 1996. 9 In
ANA, average blood had declined by 70% in that period, with reported levels at 7.5 ppb in 1995. In
1995-1996, 20% of the 103 people surveyed had blood levels between 20 and 100 ppb whilst 80%
had blood levels of mercury below 20 ppb. Cord blood also declined in the same period. More recent
data have either not been published or are not yet available.

Hair

Harada et al (1976) lumped people from ANA and WIN into two categories: those who ate fish since
1970 and those who did not. The ones who did not eat fish showed hair mercury below 10 ppm from
1972-1975 and the ones who did eat fish showed much higher concentrations. Decades later, Harada
et al (2005a) report an average of 2.1 ppm in hair (from 47 people) collected in 2002 and Chan et al
(2005) report an average of 1.3 in hair collected from 58 people.

Caution is warranted when extrapolating these numbers to the whole population of ANA. The
number of people who submitted hair samples in these most recent studies represent only about 7%
of the on-reserve population, and about 4% of the total (on- and off-reserve) population. Moreover,
this 7% sample was not representative in terms of age-structure, diet, or occupation.

EXPOSURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMS

Studies generally show that people who eat more fish containing mercury (i.e. relatively high intake
of mercury per unit time) tend to have a) higher mercury levels in their hair and blood; and b) a
greater prevalence for symptoms associated with mercury poisoning than those people who do not
eat fish or eat less fish (Harada et al, 1976; Cosway, 2001).

The relationship between relatively low intake of mercury (as evidenced by relatively low mercury in
hair and blood) and neurological disorders is less clear, particularly among adults. People of all ages
with lower exposure may exhibit mild or very subtle symptoms that do not meet minimum
assessment criteria (for diagnosis of mercury poisoning) but nonetheless show symptoms that
compromise their quality of life. There are also questions about latency (lapse time between
exposure and manifestation of symptoms) for all ages. Among health professionals, it is generally
agreed that the most critical years where both high and low exposure is concerned are the early
developmental (fetus to child) years.

9
often both ANA and WIN were part of the same studies

16

SYMPTOMS OF MERCURY POISONING IN ADULTS10

We know from data being collected by the Mercury Disability Board (MBD) that adults have been
diagnosed with having symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning following the 1985 criteria
(Cosway, 2001). The only academic team doing similar work is the Japanese research team (led by Dr.
Harada), which has a long history and a lot of experience testing for mercury poisoning in both
Canada (i.e. in ANA and WIN) and Japan. Table 4 provides a breakdown of available studies.

Table 4. Breakdown of neurological assessment data collected in ANA.
Data collection year Publication
Notes

1975
Newberry, 1977
Compares neurological data collect in ANA by
three different teams
1975
Harada et al, 1976

1976, 1977, 1979
Pritchard and
Collects data for both ANA and WIN and
McIntyre, 1980
recommends protocol established as general
protocol for assessment
1988 - 2001
Cosway, 2001
MBD data for adults
1990 - 2001
Cosway, 2001
MBD data for children
2002
Harada et al, 2005a

2004
Harada et al, 2005b
Compares 1975 with 2004 data for 27 WIN and
ANA individuals
2010
Harada et al, 2011

2010
Takaoka et al, 2014
The first to show statistically significant
comparisons with Minamata disease patients in
Japan

Harada et al (2005b) compares data taken in 1975 with that taken in 2004 for the same 27 individuals
and shows an increase in occurrence of mercury poisoning symptoms among those 27 during that
time period. This included people who showed mild or no symptoms in 1975 (and therefore were not
diagnosed) but did in 2004, when they were diagnosed as having mercury poisoning.

Consistent among the Japanese publications is a comparison of the diagnoses and methods for
diagnoses between the Japanese researchers vs. the medical team associated with the MDB. For
example, Harada et al (2005b) diagnosed 24 people with mercury poisoning, 21 of whom receive
compensation from the MDB. Discrepancies between Haradas evaluation and that of the MDB are
attributed to a difference in weight put on the same criterion (Harada et al 2005a, 2011) and, with
few exceptions, not the use of different criteria.

10
in this report, mercury poisoning, which is used by the people of ANA, is synonymous with Minamata
Disease, which is what the term the Japanese researchers use.
17
The strongest of the Japanese publications is that most recently published. Takaoka et al (2014)
tested two groups of people in ANA (Younger and Older) and compared their neurological symptoms,
sensory measurements, and subjective complaints to a control group in Japan. People not suffering
from any neurological disease or related illness were in the control group.

The main findings of Takaoka et al (2014), which are supported by statistical significance, were that

a) complaints and neurological abnormalities were more prevalent, and sensory measurements
were worse, in the two ANA groups (Younger and Older) than in the Japanese Control group;
b) complaints, neurological abnormalities, and sensory measurements were similar between the
ANA - Older and the Japanese Exposed group (i.e. those exposed to mercury through fish);
and
c) complaints and neurological abnormalities were more prevalent, and sensory measurements
were worse in the Older of the ANA group than in the Younger.

SYMPTOMS OF MERCURY POISONING IN CHILDREN AND INFANTS

Cosway (2001) presents data obtained from the MDB for assessment of children for 12 years (1990
2001)11. From these data we know that children in ANA and WIN were diagnosed by the MDB with
having symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning.

No published data are available for symptoms of mercury exposure found in infants or in fetuses of
ANA. We know from other studies that mercury inhibits fetal and infant development (see review by
Chan and Mergler, 2010). The World Health Organization (1990, cited in Cosway, 2001) reports that
scientific data show that mercury inhibits fetal brain growth, which results in reduced cognitive and
motor abilities and behavioural changes. The degree to which infants are affected is related to how
much the mothers are exposed to: low dose in the mothers may lead to subtle changes but high dose
in the mothers may lead to infant cerebral palsy.

CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

The only development study on the children of ANA was conducted in the mid 1990s by the Research
and Development Team of the Medical Services Branch (MSB) of Health Canada (Medical Services
Branch, 1996). The investigators used data collected in one sampling year to establish a mathematical
relationship between childhood development and mercury exposure. The investigators confirmed the
existence of childhood development problems (based on academic performance, behavior,
neuropsychological, and sensory-motor data) but could not confirm that mercury exposure was
linked to these problems. Other researchers in other parts of the world studying childhood
development and mercury did things differently. In these studies (reviewed in Chan and Mergler

11
using the original assessment form, which was designed in 1985
18
(2010)) individual children were tracked and monitored from birth until they were teenagers. The
studies show that exposure to mercury in the womb ultimately results in compromised childhood
development. This type of study in ANA is identified as a Gap in Section 5 and Appendix A includes
studies published after those included in the Chan and Mergler (2010) report.

INCIDENCE OF MORTALITY AND DISEASE

Data on the occurrence of disease and death among the people of ANA can be found in two sources.
In her book A Poison Stronger Than Love, Skilnyk (1985) examines incidence of death between the
years 1959 and 1978. It clusters the data into 5-year groups, and shows that before 1968, violent
(unnatural) deaths comprise about 12% of all deaths whereas after 1968 they comprised about 60%
of all death. The occurrence of disease and death among the people of ANA was assessed in 1988 by
by a team of investigators led by Dr. B Postl. The report (Postl, 1989) includes data from 1982 to 1987
and provides statistics for several diseases and causes of death. These 27 year-old data do not reflect
the current situation in ANA but have value in a) providing guidance for the design of a new
community health assessment and b) assessing change in the same health and health service
categories since the mid-1980s.

HEALTH SERVICES

Postl et al (1989) provides a summary of the quality and quantity of health services (both visiting and
community-based) available to the people of ANA in the 1980s. It highlights the huge discrepancy
between the heath service needs of the community and the quality and quantity of the services
provided. A new health survey and assessment should also address this discrepancy.

DIET

By the time the fishery was closed in 1970, the people of ANA were already disrupted by flooding,
relocation, and a road connecting the community to Kenora (Shkilnyk, 1985). Thus the fishery closure
further exacerbated the erosion of the traditional foodways that was caused by these earlier
disruptions. A local Elder expressed it this way 41 years ago:

All of what we considered good was taken away and now we have to wait for a
welfare cheque at the end of the month, which does not cover our needs because
of rising food costs. Yes, they promised to replace what we had given up but it is
slow in coming. Our lives were disrupted. 12

12
Community member quoted in Greene, F (1973), A brief history of the people of Grassy Narrows and White
Dog Ontario. 5 p. Appendix A of Bernstein et al (1973).
19
Specifically for diet, this meant a serious shift from one based in fish protein to one based in market
foods available at the local store. This shift away from fish and toward market foods is widely
recognized as detrimental for several reasons. Three are listed here.

First, there is the nutritional aspect: the inferiority of the nutritional value of market foods compared
to traditional foods has been known for a long time. Bernstein et al (1973) expressed it this way:

Store-bought foods of dubious quality and nutritional value have largely replaced
traditional foods, with a resulting reduction in protein and increase in
carbohydrates. From the aspect of child and maternal health, this is perhaps the
most serious problem.

Two generations later, this sentiment continues to be expressed, as evidenced by this comment
made during an Elders gathering five years ago:

White Dog [Wabaseemoog] is right about eating traditional foods. We never heard
of diabetes or high blood pressure when we ate good. We were given medicines to
help us. Traditional food in the past served us well. Todays foods are not good. We
have to think that way.13

Second, there is a cultural aspect. A departure from the harvesting and consumption of traditional
foods, such as those associated with fishing and trapping, has also meant a departure from traditional
foodways, a complex system embedded in the language, cultures and traditions of which food items
are part of this larger system (Simpson and DaSilva, 2009). Opportunities for teaching and expression
of culture and identity, which include those of language, sustenance, ceremonies, reciprocity and
governance, are diminished when the opportunities to harvest wild foods are diminished.

Third, there is an occupational consideration. Not going out to harvest food has led to a decrease in
physical work (and associated fitness) and an increase in idleness and boredom. This was recognized
as a problem 41 years ago, as offered by a community member:

Before, there was always something interesting to do everyday. There was a
net to tend and the fish to clean, and that took up a lot of our time. Now there
is nothing to do.14

13
Elder quote from Elders Gathering, March 23-24, 2009, held at Asubpeechoseewagong Netum Anishinabek,
cited in Simpson and DaSilva (2009).

14
Community member quoted in La Rusic, I.E. (1973), A report on mercury in the environment in the
communities of White Dog and Grassy Narrows: The dietary aspects and problems of communicating
with local populations. 18 p. Appendix B of Bernstein et al (1973).
20
Today, both market and traditional foods (including local fish) continue to be consumed among the
people of ANA. The current patterns of consumption, however, can be demarcated by income (J.
DaSilva, pers. comm. November 2014). People with lower income tend to buy (nutritionally low) food
at the low-choice community store and supplement their diet (when they run out of money) with wild
foods. These wild foods would generally be harvested very close to the community because the same
people have limited or no transportation. People who have a higher income also tend to have
vehicles, which affords them the opportunity to buy all their food and the ability to buy it in Kenora.
For these people, wild foods are more of a choice rather than a necessity (J. DaSilva, pers. comm.).

At present, several initiatives to incorporate nutritional market and wild foods into household,
community, and school food programs are underway in ANA. Where wild foods are concerned, a
challenge is to know which wild foods to include given that mercury levels are still high in preferred
fish of easily accessible lakes and that some Elders report of non-fish wild foods being unhealthy
(Simpson and DaSilva, 2009). Where market foods are concerned, a challenge is to get nutritional
market foods into the community store at prices affordably by those who must shop there.

Diet Surveys

A first attempt at a diet survey in ANA was made in 1973 (La Rusic, 1973). No survey data were
acquired but a categorization of people based on the pattern of food intake was. It was acquired from
one community member who offered his analysis that the people could be divided into these three
categories:

a) those who worked for wages and purchased all their food from the store;
b) those who guided, ate fish while guiding, and augmented this with store and bush food
(particularly in the winter); and
c) the trappers who would eat some store food in summer along with considerable fish and in
the winter live almost exclusively on bush food.

While these categories are differentiated based on occupation, today differences in diet among
people is primarily based on income, which separates people into two main groups: lower income
people who generally eat community-based market and wild foods and higher income people who
eat urban market foods (J. DaSilva, pers. comm, Nov. 2014). A diet survey (identified as both a Gap
and a Recommendation in this report) is needed so that efforts can be made to ensure food security
for all people of ANA.

Chan et al (2005) collected diet information from 87 people in ANA, and calculated nutritional daily
intake (g of calories from protein, fat, carbohydrates and alcohol) and fish intake (grams of fish per
day). The fish intake data are broken down into four different types of local fish, and into market and
local fish. Their data show that the people of ANA eat about twice as much local fish as they do
market fish, and that men eat more fish of both types than do the women.

21
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES

Beginning in about 1970 the people of ANA were told not to eat the fish because it was contaminated
with mercury. This was the first advisory. Since that time there have been three other formats of fish
consumption advisories appearing in the literature.

One advisory is based on pre-determined safe levels of mercury in fish. For example, frequent fish
consumers are advised against eating fish with mercury levels greater than 0.2 ppm of mercury. The
usefulness of this advice requires that consumers also be provided with information of which fish, of
which length, and in which lakes are above or below the 0.2 ppm level. These data are available and
appear in a few publications that may or may not be accessible to the readership of ANA.

In their Sport fishermans guide to methyl mercury contamination levels in fish, the Grand Council
of Treaty #3 depict images of popular fishing lakes, and superimposed on each lake is a bar chart
showing the mercury levels in each fish type. This is a very helpful addition to text-based advisories.
The effectiveness of this publication is not known and should be explored.

A second advisory is based on fish length. Most people who eat fish can determine type and size, and
so an advisory considering these two parameters for four lakes (in ANAs territory) was reported by
Chan et al (2005). For example, bass longer than 27 36 cm in all lakes should be avoided. The
exception to this is Clay Lake, in which all fish but the small whitefish should be avoided.15

A third form of advice appears in the maximum number of fish meals per week or month that people
could eat (depending on type) and stay within a safe level. For example Chan et al (2005) used a
guideline level for mercury intake through food and fish mercury concentrations to calculate how
much local fish people of ANA could eat. Their calculations were in response to a question posed by
the Elders, which was How much fish can we eat without the fear of mercury poisoning?
Accordingly, they calculated that people of ANA could eat two pieces of walleye every three weeks or
5 pieces of whitefish every week to stay within an established intake guideline.

Neff et al (2012) also report numbers of fish meals per month but of different fish, namely of yellow
perch, sauger, white sucker, and mooneye, which have lower mercury levels than walleye or northern
pike. The values are broken down into four lakes in ANAs territory, and are presented with reference
to fish length while staying within guidelines for levels of mercury in fish flesh.

I would not be surprised if taken together, these formats (which have appeared at different times and
presented by different groups) have led to confusion among the people of ANA, as was suggested

15
Chan et al (2005) caution eating the top predator fish from most lakes but encourage the consumption of
whitefish, which has relatively low mercury. Their aim was to encourage the consumption of whitefish
as a means of maximizing the nutritional benefit of a traditional food and of fish while minimizing
exposure to mercury through local fish.

22
almost a decade ago by Chan et al (2005).

EFFECTIVENESS OF FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES

Not all people are aware of the advisories. Recently some Elders exclaimed that they have never
seen the guidelines (Simpson and DaSilva, 2009). Similarly, Chan et al (2005) conducted a food safety
beliefs survey and 26% of the people surveyed in ANA indicated they did not know whether or not it
is safe to eat fish from the area. This suggests that they havent seen nor heard of the advisories.

Other people did not believe that the fish were contaminated. Shortly after the first advisory was
issued La Rusic (1973) reported that one individual interviewed stated that he would continue to eat
fish because he did not believe that they were dangerous. This is still the case among some people, as
evidenced by this quote from the Elders Gathering held in ANA in 2009:

I remember them guidelines, I remember them telling us what fish were good to eat
and which were not. I didnt listen to them, I eat fish always. Everything I caught in my
net or what I caught I ate it. 16

The persistence among some people in eating fish (even with knowledge of the advisories) is likely for
a variety of reasons. Here are some:

a) Fish are a traditional food of the Anishinaabeg of ANA, and their harvest and consumption
are important for both cultural and health reasons;
b) A mercury contaminated fish looks, tastes, and feels like a healthy fish, and observations
made during cleaning, cooking, and eating can lead one to conclude that it is perfectly
healthy;
c) Unwillingness or inability to purchase market food;
d) The usefulness (or lack thereof) of the consumption guidelines;
e) The confusion caused by the presence of several different guidelines (see above);
f) The mistrust of government officials (Greene, 1973; Simpson and DaSilva, 2009);
g) The mixed messages from government officials and outside researchers about the safety of
eating fish (Judy DaSilva, pers. comm., Nov. 2014); and
h) Fishing is a protected treaty right, and assertion of that right is important in cultural and
political determination.

It seems that the problems identified long ago surrounding the communication of mercury in fish,
consumption advice, and the risk of mercury intake through fish have not yet been fully resolved.
Without a doubt communication on fish consumption is complicated but much has been learned and

16
Elder quote from Elders Gathering, March 23-24, 2009, held at ANA, cited in Simpson and Dasilva (2009)

23
good advice is offered in La Rusic (1973) and Simpson and DaSilva (2009). Attention in this area is
needed and with a special focus on communication with (and for) reproductive women.

24
4. STATE OF HUMAN HEALTH

COMMUNITY HEALTH

There has not been a recent survey or assessment of community health of the people of ANA. Given
that, there are many unpublished observations of illness in the community (diabetes, infant
neurological disorders, Alzheimers Disease, cerebral palsy, miscarriages, birth defects, cancer, and
heart disease (Judy Dasilva, pers. comm., Harada et al, 2005b, Simpson et al, 2009)). Together, these
warrant a community health survey and assessment.

The most recent account of community health is provided by Cosway (2001), who extracted
information from Medical History Forms and Neuroassessment Forms in the MDB files (along with
other sources of information) to attempt a health status report as of 2000.

The most recent community-based health assessment was published in 1996 (almost 20 years ago)
and prepared by the Community Health Planning Division of the Grassy Narrows First Nation Health
and Social Services. According to Cosway (2001), that report listed several general problems
identified by survey participants. They were: poor family planning, nutrition, housing conditions and
recovery from illness or injury as well as pregnancy and violence. Specific health problems included
heart disease, strokes, urinary problems, diabetes, gallbladder disease, respiratory illness,
tuberculosis, arthritis, mental health, auditory, visual, and neurological problems, digestion, physical
disabilities and substance abuse. The very first published community health survey is presented in a
report written by Postl et al (1989). The data were collected in or before 1987, making those data 27
years old.17

To date, most of the publications of data collected in ANA focus on mercury exposure and its
neurological effects. The latest publication was in 2014 with data that was collected in 2010 and this
looked only at mercury poisoning symptoms (Takaoka et al, 2014). It showed that older (46 to 76
years) and younger (16 45 years) people of ANA show symptoms of mercury poisoning.

The conclusions of Takoaka et al (2014) contradict Chan et al (2005) who concluded that there is no
general concern for mercury within the community. The Chan team based their conclusion not on
neurological data but on the average values for hair mercury, which was below the 6 ppm risk/no risk
value established by the WHO. One can see that the conclusions are different between the two
groups primarily because they used different indicators. Irrespective of the use of other indicators,
one of the weaknesses of the Chan et al 2005 study was the small sample size. 18

17
They are useful for other reasons. They can, for example, be used as benchmarks for establishing trends or as
a resource in designing data collection instruments such as surveys.

18
Hair samples were collected from ~7% of the on-reserve population.

25

More recently, and more consistent with the conclusions of Takoaka et al (2014), Chan and Mergler
(2010) reviewed studies that examined the effects of fetal and infant mercury exposure on child
neurodevelopment and wrote this summary statement:

Today there is wide consensus that even at low levels of mercury, mercury can affect
childrens intellectual and motor development, which is not immediately obvious in children
examined individually, but can be observed in population studies19

Chan and Mergler (2010) provide an extensive review on the subject and their associated
bibliography is likewise robust.

19
Chan and Mergler (2010), p. 19
26
5. ECOLOGICAL HEALTH RESEARCH TO DATE

Most of the publications pertaining to environmental health in ANA are in the form of reports (22) or
journal articles (23). Table 5 provides an approximate of each. There were few publications in the
1990s compared to other decades.

Table 5. The number of publications (by decade and type) pertaining to ecological health among the
20
literature compiled by the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group.
Publication period
Reports
Journal Articles
Other

Up to 1980
1981 - 1990
1991 - 2000
2001 - present

4
2
0
16

7
10
2
4

4
1
0
9*
* plain language summaries of reports

Table 6 provides an estimate of ecological publications by topic. Most of the publications deal with
mercury in fish.

Table 6. The number of publications according to environmental health topic among the literature
21
compiled by the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group.
Topic
Reports
Journal Articles
Other
Bioindicators and biomonitoring
0
birds
0
crayfish
4
fish
3
forest
1
river geochemistry
0
remediation & recovery
1
sediment
5
whole ecosystem
3
wild foods
7
* four are plain language summaries of reports
2
2
0
9
0
2
5
2
1
0
0
0
5*
0
1
1
3
5*
0
4*

20
This is a minimum as more have surfaced since the original compilation.

21
Ibid.
27
MERCURY STUDIES

Joint study by Canada and Ontario research teams in the late 1970s

During the late 1970s, and as part of a funding agreement between the governments of Canada and
Ontario, provincial and federal scientists conducted several studies over the course of two and a half
years to assess the degree and effects of mercury pollution in the Wabigoon-English River System.
These include experimental studies, which, along with field measurements, help determine plausible
remediation strategies. These studies were the first for this this river system, which means they came
after the mercury discharge that spanned the 1960s.

The studies included measurements of levels of mercury in sediment, water, fish and other
organisms, rates of methylation in the water column and sediment, factors affecting speciation and
particle reactivity of mercury, and rates of mercury transport downstream. Several enclosure22
experiments were conducted to investigate clean up and remediation strategies, such as the addition
of clay or selenium to the water column (e.g. Rudd et al, 1983; Turner and Rudd, 1983). At the time,
relatively little was known about the biogeochemical behavior of mercury and so the Canada-Ontario
Wabigoon-English River mercury studies contributed much to the scientific understanding of mercury
in aquatic ecosystems.

The findings of the 1979 1980 studies are embodied in two reports (Wabigoon-English River
Mercury Study Steering Committee (WERMSSC), 1983; 1984) and subsequent journal publications by
the contributing authors. The third and final section of the Full Technical Report (WERMSSC, 1984)
contains the studies conducted to understand how mercury bioaccumulates in aquatic ecosystems.
This section is less useful in a contemporary context because a vast amount has been learned about
the behavior of mercury in aquatic ecosystems since.23 The first two sections of the Full Technical
Report are the most useful for contemporary discussions. This is for three reasons: a) they contain
site-specific historical measurements of levels of mercury in biota, sediment, and water, with which
data subsequently collected has been and can be compared to determine long-trends; b) they
contain physical and hydrological information about the Wabigoon-English river system and its basins
(e.g. basin and channel morphology, stream discharge, water depths) that will be useful to anyone

22
enclosures are in-lake partitions, typically round, that are situated in the lake and use lake water. Multiple
enclosures within the same lake allow for sample replication and an experimental control.

23
including but not limited to conditions necessary for the methylation of mercury, the role of oxygen
rich/oxygen poor boundaries in controlling demethylating/methylating activities, the relative
importance of trophic transfer in food chain bioaccumulation, and the relative importance of internal
(such as sediment methylation, growth rates) and external (i.e. in the catchment area, such as logging
or fires) processes in determining water column and food web mercury.

28
resuming monitoring, ecological, or remediation studies and c) they contain discussions of

remediation strategies aimed at cleaning up the river.

The Canada-Ontario study provides good benchmark data with which recovery can be measured,
particularly for water, sediment and crayfish. In the paragraphs that follow, I incorporate sediment
and crayfish data from the Canada-Ontario study as these two parameters were a component of
contaminant surveys undertaken by ANA in the 2000s.
Mercury in fish

The first report to demonstrate that fish downstream of Dryden were contaminated (relative to fish
of uncontaminated lakes) was Fimreite and Reynolds (1973). The highest concentration was 27.8 ppm
and was measured in a northern pike found dead in the Wabigoon River. At the time, several other
burbot, northern pike, and walleye harvested from the Wabigoon River and Clay Lake had mercury
concentrations exceeding 10 ppm. As of 2010, top predator fish of Clay Lake still had highest mercury
compared to other lakes measured, with levels ~ 1.0 3.0 ppmsubstantially less than the historical
measurements but still above guideline levels (Neff et al, 2012).

Since the early 1970s there have been several fish-focused studies and much has been learned about
mercury in the fish in ANAs territory. Table 7 provides a quick glance of available publications.
Table 7. Breakdown of publications reporting on levels of mercury in fish.
Collection year
Water body*
Fishes**
Publication

1
1970
1
1971
1
1972
1972
1971, 1972, 1976
1976 - 1984
1
2003
1
1970 2010

CL, WR, BL, TiL, IL, SL, GNL Wa, NP, WS, Bu, RB

CL, BL, GNL, SL
Wa, NP, WF, WS

CL, WR, BL
Wa, NP, Bu

CL
Wa, NP, WF, WS

BL
Wa, NP, WF

several
NP, YP
CL, BL, GNL, IL, SL, Ti, ML, Wa, NP, WF, LB

CL, BL, SL
Wa, NP, WF, WS,
YP, Sa, Mo

Fimreite et al, 1973
Scott and Armstrong, 1972
Annett et al, 1975
Scott, 1974
Armstrong and Scott, 1979
Parks et al, 1991
Kinghorn et al, 2007
Neff et al, 2012
* CL = Clay Lake, WR = Wabigoon River, BL = Ball Lake, TiL = Tide Lake, ML = Maynard Lake, IL = Indian Lake; SL =
Separation Lake; GNL = Grassy Narrows Lake; ER = English River

** Wa = walleye; NP = Northern Pike; WF = whitefish; WS = white sucker; Bu = burbot; RB = Rock Bass; LB =
Largemouth Bass; YP = yellow perch; Sa= Sauger; Mo = mooneye

1
Study also included Tetu Lake, which is downstream of ANAs traditional territory

29
What follows is summary based largely on the two most recent publications.

From the studies that include multiple lakes

From Neff et al (2012) we learn that Clay Lake still contains fish with the highest levels of mercury
compared to downstream lakes. As of 2010, walleye and northern pike of Clay Lake still had highest
mercury compared to other lakes measured. Mercury levels of these fish in the 40 45 cm category
was 1.0 3.0 ppm while those in Ball Lake (north Basin) and Separation Lake have between 0.5 and
1.0 ppm.

Neff et al (2012) also compare mercury levels in fish collected from ANAs territory (between 2000
and 2010) to similar-sized fish collected in other Northwestern Ontario water bodies. Mercury levels
in walleye, northern pike, and whitefish from Clay Lake were well above the reported range for the
other water bodies, which means that Clay Lake remains the most highly contaminated lake in
northwestern Ontario. In the same fish species from Ball Lake (north basin) and Separation Lake,
mercury levels were above the 75th percentile reported for the other water bodies, indicating that
although their concentrations have decreased dramatically since the 1970s and are much closer to
having guideline levels of mercury, these 3 fish species in these lakes24 remained elevated in mercury
as of 2010.

The strength of data provided by Neff et al (2012) is in its capture of long-term trends. Its weakness is
in the small number of lakes, for not all the lakes fished by members of ANA are represented. A
better representation is by Kinghorn et al (2007), who sampling efforts (albeit only one year) included
Indian, Grassy Narrows, and Tide Lakes. From a human health perspective it makes sense that the
suite of targeted lakes for monitoring of mercury in fish must include those frequently fished by the
people. There are no reports for fish in the south basin of Ball Lake. Nor are there reports for Garden
Lake (one of the two lakes bordering the community), which is fished especially by people who do
have the means by which to get to other lakes (J. DaSilva, pers. comm, Nov. 2014).

From the studies that include multiple species

From the studies that include multiple species, we have learned that the higher up a fish is on the
food chain, the more mercury it will have. Fish-eating fish, i.e. top predators such as northern pike
and walleye, have more mercury than fish that eat insects or invertebrates, such as whitefish or
mooneye. Top predators generally have concentrations greater than 0.5 ppm whereas insectivorous
fish can be below that in some lakes, depending on the size of fish and the lake. Small mooneye,
white sucker, whitefish and yellow perch are generally below 0.5 ppm mercury in lakes other than
Clay Lake (Kinghorn et al, 2007; Neff et al, 2012).

24
The same species/length of fish from Tetu Lake fell within the range bordered by the 25th and 75th percentile
values.
30
From the studies that include multiple sizes of fish

From the studies that include multiple sizes of fish, we learn that longer fish (within one species) will
generally have higher levels of mercury than shorter fish. This is because longer fish tend to be older
and heavier, and have spent more time feeding (and retaining mercury) than younger, shorter, or
lighter fish.

From the study that included multiple years

The only publication that contains data spanning multiple years is that by Neff et al (2012), who
publish long-term trends in fish mercury data collected by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in
partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Data collection began in 1970 for Clay
Lake and 1975 for other lakes. Neff et al (2012) present data for Clay, Ball (north basin), Separation,
and Tetu Lakes up to 2010 and the highlights are as follows:

a) The mercury levels in walleye, northern pike, and Lake whitefish have declined since the
1970s in all four lakes;

b) the pattern of decline is not the same for all basin-species combinations;

c) in Clay and Ball Lake (north basin), the 2000 - 2010 trend generally shows a stabilizing trend
over a slight decline in mercury levels for all three species;

d) as of 2010, mercury in walleye and northern pike in Clay Lake was 1 3 ppm; in Ball Lake
(north basin) and Separation lakes were between 0.5 and 1.5 ppm;

e) In Separation Lake, the 2000 2010 trend show an increase in mercury levels for walleye and
northern pike (3-8%25), but not for whitefish;

f) Walleye and northern pike showed a spike in mercury in 2005; the same was not observed in
whitefish;

g) No observation of a general change in fish condition (i.e. fatness) over time was made.

Mercury in crayfish

Mercury was measured in the abdominal muscle in crayfish in ANAs territory in 1971 (Armstrong and
Hamilton, 1973), 1979-1981 (Parks et al, 1984, 1987, 1991), 2004 (Sellers, 2005a) and 2007 (Sellers,
2008).

25
Neff et al (2012) did not state this; I calculated this value based on data they present.
31
Parks et al (1987) show how the mercury in crayfish from Clay Lake declined during the 1970s. The
1970 average value was 10, 500 (ng/g dry wet) and by 1974 it was 2 000. The data suggest a steady
decline since about 1976, with the last reported values being about 800 in 1983. Mercury in Clay Lake
crayfish has not been measured since 1983 but it is safe to assume that levels have declined, as was
observed in Ball Lake by Sellers (2005a, 2008). Applying the reduction factor of 4-7 times observed in
Ball Lake south basin (see below) to the original Clay Lake crayfish data (Parks et al, 1984), I estimate
that as of 2007, Clay Lake crayfish values would have been 200-400 ng/g wet wt, or about 35 times
lower than the 1970 data and in the same range observed for Ball Lake south basin in 2007. Ongoing
monitoring of crayfish mercury needs to include Clay Lake.

Sellers (2005a, 2008) duplicated sampling three sites in Ball Lake of the earlier studies and
demonstrated the following:

a) The mercury concentrations in crayfish collected where the Wabigoon River enters AND
leaves the south basin of Ball Lake (about 300 500 ng/g wet wt) were relatively elevated
(and significantly higher than any other sites. These other sites include two receiving water
from the English River only (Tide Lake and the north basin of Ball Lake) and two on Grassy
Narrows Lake (downstream of Wabigoon-English river confluence);

b) although the mercury in crayfish collected where the Wabigoon River enters AND leaves the
Ball Lake were elevated in 2007 compared to English River sites, they were 4-7 times lower
than they were in the late 1970s; and

c) it is not known what the recent trend is in crayfish mercury in Ball Lake i.e. if it has stabilized,
increased or decreased) since 2007.

Estimates of crayfish mercury in Clay Lake and recently measured crayfish mercury in Ball Lake and
other downstream sites are all above tissue residue guidelines for the protection of wildlife
consumers of aquatic biota (See section 6).

Mercury in sediment

Changes from up- to downstream

The most recent reports for levels of mercury26 in sediment are provided by Sellers (2005a, 2008,
2009), who sampled surface (0-6 cm) of the sediment at several sites along the English-Wabigoon
River system. Some of the same sites were those sampled during the late 1970s (Parks et al, 1984).
The most recent data show that the further downstream of Dryden, the lower the mercury is in the

26
Unlike blood, hair, and flesh, the Hg in sediment exists many forms of mercury, the sum of which is
considered total Hg; only a small proportion of the total Hg in sediments is MeHg.

32
surface sediment, a pattern that was determined decades earlier (Parks et al, 1984). The most
dramatic decline between basins revealed by the 2004 data was between the east and west basin of
Clay Lake. The east basin of Clay Lake (0 6 cm) sediment had a mercury concentration of about 2
000 ng /g dry wt while the west basin had about 800. This places Clay Lake 2004 sediment above
sediment quality guidelines for mercury (see section 6).

Similar samples from Indian and Grassy Narrows Lakes had ~225 ng /g dry wt as of 2004, which is well
above normal levels (< 100 ng /g dry wt 27). Sites receiving only English River water (Tide Lake and Ball
Lake north basin) and further downstream at Tetu Lake were less than 100 ng/g dry wt (Sellers 2005a,
2008, 2009).

Changes with time at certain sites

Clay Lake. The most interesting mercury story told by the sediments comes from the dated sediment
profiles. In Clay Lake, the mercury concentration in the surface sediment has been declining since the
1970s (Lockhart et al, 2000, Sellers, 2005a). As of 2004, surface sediment levels in Clay Lake, though
elevated above background by a factor of 8-20, were 3-10 times lower than they were at their peak in
1970. This decline is expected because of the cessation of mercury discharge into the Wabigoon River
at Dryden and the burial (with time) of the most contaminated sediment with cleaner sediment and
whilst this cleaner sediment is far from clean, it has resulted in a decline in mercury. As importantly,
these same data show that Clay Lake surface sediment mercury concentrations are stabilizing well
above (by a factor of 8-20) background levels. This is consistent with trend of stabilization in fish
mercury (though elevated) in this lake (Neff et al, 2012).

Parks et al (1984) present 1980 sediment mercury data for 28 sites, for which the average value was 5
880 ng mercury/ g dry wt. The question that remains is: What are the current levels of mercury the
surface sediment of the Wabigoon River between Dryden and Clay Lake? Sediments subject to
turbulence, such as those of rivers and shorelines of lakes, have different accumulation patterns than
deeper lake basins. As such, one cannot assume that the burial of mercury over time (as observed
in Clay Lake) has occurred in Wabigoon River sediments.

Assuming the mercury in the surface sediments of has declined, however, I estimate that as of 2004,
the average value of surface sediment mercury in the Wabigoon River upstream of Clay Lake to be
about 600 2 000 ng/g dry wt.28 Clearly this estimate need to be replaced with empirical data, but if
reasonably accurate, the values place Wabigoon River sediment, at least at some sites, above
sediment quality guidelines for mercury (see section 6).

27
example Lockhart et al, 2000; Perry et al, 2005; He et al, 2007; Petit et al, 2010.

28
To arrive at this value, I applied the Clay Lake surface sediment reduction factor (3-10 times) for the same
period to the 1980 average value (5 880 ng Hg/ g dry wt).

33
Ball Lake. In the south basin of Ball Lake, the mercury concentration in the surface sediment has been
steadily increasing. This means that the sediment accumulating at the surface was higher in mercury
in 2004 than it was in the 1970s (Sellers, 2008).29 The pattern of increase30 can be best explained by
the accelerated erosion, transport downstream, and deposition of (upstream) particles richer in
mercury than those already there. If such particles originate within the river system, this can happen
during annual high water periods and/or fall overturn (Jackson et al, 1982; Jackson, 1984; Parks et al,
1986; Owens et al, 2009). If such particles originate in the forested part of the catchment, they can be
released from the catchment when it is logged (Povari et al, 2003; Eklf et al, 2014).

Interestingly, the crayfish-mercury in the south basin of Ball Lake (though still elevated above normal)
declined from 1970 to 2007 even though the sediment mercury has increased during the same period
(Sellers 2005a, 2008). This difference in trends may reflect differences in sampling locations for
crayfish and sediment31 or perhaps a difference in response times between sediment and crayfish to
changes in mercury coming into the water. Regardless it reminds us of the general and/or site-
specific complexity of mercury behavior in aquatic ecosystems (e.g. Kelly et al, 1995; Kannan et al,
1998).

Mercury in water

Mercury was measured in the various fractions of whole-water samples during the Canada-Ontario
joint study in the late 1970s (WERMSSC, 1984). Water mercury levels have not been measured or
reported since.

Mercury in birds

Three publications report mercury concentration in birds. Vermeer et al (1973) report data from Clay
Lakes collected in 1971. Levels of mercury were measured in eggs of herring gulls and in the breasts
of 6 other species. The average mercury in breast flesh was highest for the hooded merganser and
was 12.3 ppm. Total mercury among species decreased in the following order: hooded mergansers >
common mergansers > common goldeneyes > blue-winged teals > mallards > American widgeons.

Annett et al (1975) report on three of the same species of birds collected at Ball Lake in 1972 and
showed that the concentrations were lower than samples collected from Clay Lake the previous year.
For example, 21 goldeneye ducks had an average Total mercury level of 7.8 ppm (+/- 1.16) at Clay

29
The same is true for Tetu Lake (further downstream; Sellers et. al, unpublished manuscript).

30
The sediment profile shows a gradual, increase in mercury from deep to surface sediment

31
The crayfish were sampled in the shallow, rocky water at the edge of the lake whereas sediment was sampled
in the middle of the basin below the deep water and where crayfish do not live.

34
Lake (Vermeer et al, 1973) whereas 9 had an average of 1.4 (+/- 0.8) at Ball Lake. The authors
attributed the lower levels at Ball Lake to being further away from Dryden. They also show that the
liver of the birds had higher concentrations (by 2-6 times) than the breast.

Starting in 2001, ANA began collecting many types of wild foods that were then tested for different
types of contaminants. The test results for mercury among the birds (collected from several different
sites) showed that

a) a large majority of the bird samples were below 0.2 ppm;
b) all of the herbivorous bird samples were below 0.5 ppm (and for partridge and geese, less
than 0.04 ppm); and
c) more often than not, the carnivorous birds (goldeneye and hooded merganser) had levels in
their breast below 0.5 ppm (Sellers 2004, 2005b) .

There is not enough overlap (among species and site of harvest) to make direct comparisons between
the mercury level in bird between the 1970s and 2000s. However, given that the mercury
concentrations in sediment, crayfish, and several types of fish have declined since the 1970s, one
would expect the mercury concentrations in birds to be much lower now than they were four or five
decades ago, even among the permanent residents.32

Mercury in many wild foods

Beginning in 2001 ANA undertook surveys of contaminants in wild foods collected from their
territory, including mercury. The initial survey (Year 1) was 30 samples but subsequent surveys
included many more samples. In the third and fourth surveys, Wabauskang First Nation and
Wabaseemoong Independent Nation (WIN) also submitted samples.

All of the studies contained tests for mercury, other metals, and organic contaminants. Most of the
samples collected in the above studies were of flesh. Some of the studies included organs (e.g. liver,
kidneys, or heart) or plant tissue. Table 8 gives a breakdown of the number of samples screened for
mercury among the studies.

32
Aquatic birds are migratory. As such, they pick up contaminants from several feeding locations; their
contaminant burdens are not reflective of just one feeding location.

35

Table 8: A summary of wild food collection efforts for mercury surveys.
Study
number
1
2
3
4
Collection
Years
2002
2004
2004-2005
2008-2009
Total
number
of
samples
30
147
163*
162**
mercury
30
147
163
162
Report
CIER, 2002
Sellers, 2004
Sellers, 2005b, 2005c
Sellers, 2010
* this study included samples collected further north than the previous studies
and samples harvested by people of Wabauskang First Nation.
** Most of the samples analyzed in this study were harvested by people of WIN

The following are the highlights of the samples collected in ANAs territory.
Mercury in flesh
a) In years 1-4 a total of (30 +147 + 91 + 24 =) 292 samples were collected from ANAs territory
and tested for mercury, most of these were flesh;

b) Mercury was not or minimally detected in land herbivores (this means that if any was there, it
was, to varying degrees, less than about 0.04 ppm);

c) Mercury was not or minimally detected in water herbivores;

d) Mercury was detected in the flesh of both land and water carnivores with the highest
measured in flesh being among the mink and otter samples (about 2.0 ppm);

e) Among the carnivores, 38% in Year 2, and 19 % in Year 3 had levels below 0.2 ppm;

f) Among the carnivores, about 60% in Year 2 and 48% in Year 3 levels of mercury below 0.5
ppm;

g) Fewer samples were collected in Year 4 but followed the same patterns;

h) The carnivores that were above 0.5 ppm were top predators associated with the water (such
as northern pike, walleye, otter, mink, and goldeneye); and

i) The lowest levels among the carnivores were measured in marten (less that 0.04 0.24 ppm
among 11 individuals).

Mercury in flesh vs. other organs
a) When both the liver and the flesh were sampled from the same individuals, there was
generally more mercury in the liver than in the flesh.

36
b) When three tissue types were sampled from four otters in Year 3, from highest to lowest the
mercury levels ranked as follows: hair > liver > kidney with the following corresponding
ranges: 13 49 ppm, 1.8 9.3 ppm and 1.0 2.6 ppm.

c) Among deer and moose collected nearby in WIN, the kidneys had about 10 times more
mercury than the liver; the heart and flesh was again much lower than either of these.

d) The hair from four otters was analyzed for four heavy metals. Levels of cadmium, lead, and
arsenic were about 55 times lower than the level of mercury.

STUDIES OF CONTAMINANTS OTHER THAN MERCURY

Non-mercury contaminants in wild foods

Table 9 gives a breakdown of the number of samples screened in each chemical group (other than
mercury) among the wild food studies.

Table 9. A summary of wild food collection efforts in contaminant surveys.

Study
number
1
2
3
4
Collection
Years
2002
2004
2004-2005
2008-2009
Number of samples
Total
number
of
samples
Metals
other
than
mercury
30
147
163*
162**
30
147
163
47 - 96
semi-volatile
organic
compounds
28
0
0
0

chlorinated
organic
compounds
(dioxins, furans,
PCBs, OC
pesticides)
11
13
85
60
Report
CIER, 2002
Sellers, 2004
Sellers, 2005b, 2005c
Sellers, 2010
* this study included samples collected further north than the previous studies and samples harvested by people of
Wabauskang First Nation.
** Most of the samples analyzed in this study were harvested by people of WIN

The following are the highlights of the samples collected in ANAs territory.
Cadmium
a) In years 1-4 a total of (30 +147 + 91 + 14 =) 288 samples were collected from ANAs territory
and tested for cadmium; a large majority of these were flesh samples;

b) Most (about 88 95%) of the flesh samples had levels that could not be detected (i.e. <0.01
ppm);

37
c) When cadmium was detected, this was usually in kidney or liver and was typically less than
1.0 ppm33;

d) Among tissue types harvested from the same animals, the order of cadmium level from
highest to lowest is kidney >> liver >>>>> heart = flesh;

e) When measured on the same animal, the levels in the kidneys were 5-10 times higher than
the levels in the livers; and

f) The highest values were measured in a beaver liver (11.3 ppm in Year 3) and the kidney of
two moose (16.0 ppm in Year 4);

Heavy metals other than mercury and cadmium
a) Lead: 83% of the 147 samples screened for lead had no detectable levels. 79% (22 of the 28)
that did have detectable levels had values below the Health Canada Guideline of 0.5 ppm;
and

b) Lead, arsenic, tin: very few (about 5% in Year 2 and 7% in year 3) of the samples had
measurable lead, arsenic and tin but those that did were below the Health Canada guidelines
for commercial meat.

Chlorinated organic contaminants
a) Semi-volatile organic (SVO) compounds: 28 samples were screened in Year 1 for SVOs, most
of which were chlorinated compounds. None had detectable levels of SVOs;

b) Dioxins and furans. 23 samples were submitted (Years 1 and 2) for measurement of 17
dioxins and furans. Very little of any of the 17 compounds were detected among most
samples.

Eight samples had enough to calculate Toxic Equivalencies (TEQs). In picogram per gram
(pg/g), these ranged from 0.2 for one pike, ~0.5 among four moose, 3.6 for one whitefish and
3.8 for one walleye. All of these are well below the 20 pg/g value established by the World
Health Organization (WHO) for safe consumption. The only sample above this was 38 pg/g
for one marten collected in Year 1. In year three, 9 marten were sampled and the TEQ for
those marten ranged from 0.26 0.69 pg/g, suggesting that the one animal collected in Year
1 was older and/or ate more TEQs than the others.

In Year 3, 19 samples of top predators (e.g. marten, walleye, otter) from ANAs territory were
submitted for analyses of 17 distinct dioxins and furans. Very little of any of the 17
compounds were detected among most samples i.e. concentrations were less than 0.1 to 0.4

33
Health Canada does not have a guideline for cadmium in commercial meat

38
pg/g (0.0000001 to 0.0000004 ppm). Calculated TEQs ranged from 0.34 to 0.89 pg/g, well
below the 20 pg/g WHO guideline.

c) Organochlorine (OC) pesticides and PCBs. In Year 3, 46 of the 61 samples tested for OC
pesticides and PCBs were from ANAs territory. They represented 12 different
animal/fish/birds.

Health Canada has a guideline of 5000 nanograms per gram (ng/g) for DDTs and 2000 ng/g
for PCBs in commercial meat. The values in flesh samples collected from ANAs territory in
Year 3 for these and other OCs were substantially less than the HC guidelines. For example
PCBs in flesh, which were the highest among the OC compounds, ranged from 0.067 ng/g (in
one of 6 deer ) to 17.2 ng/g in one hooded merganser. Both PCBs and OC pesticides were
higher among carnivores than herbivores. Migratory carnivorous waterfowl (hooded
merganser and goldeneye) had the highest levels of PCBs and DDTs in flesh.

Several tissue types were sampled from one otter and showed that OC compound
accumulate to greater concentration in organ meat. From highest to lowest, PCBs and DDTs
levels ranked as follows: Kidney > liver > hair >flesh. The kidney sample was 10 ng/g and 21
ng/g for DDTs and PCBs respectively, well below the Health Canada guidelines for commercial
meat.

Contaminants causing intersex fish in the Wabigoon River

In the fall of 2000, Pollock et al (2010) sampled walleye in the Wabigoon River at two sites
downstream of pulp mill effluent (PME) and municipal wastewater (MWW) effluent. They were
interested in comparing the gonad size and characteristics of these walleye with those caught
upstream of PME and MWW, because both PME and MWW are known to contain endocrine
disrupting hormones that can cause intersex fish and reproductive failure.

They found that compared to the reference (upstream) site, female walleye collected within 4-5 km
downstream of the PME had larger ovaries. This difference was statistically significant. Male walleye
collected at the same time had significantly smaller testes. These observations are consistent with
that of Hewitt et al (2005) who also found female white suckers with unusually large gonads. They are
also consistent with what is being revealed in other studies on the occurrence and effect of endocrine
disrupting compounds (EDCs) on populations of fishes and frogs (Kloas et al, 2009; Sebire et al, 2011).

Of the 46 walleye examined, one male and three females from this same site were hermaphroditic
i.e. the male testes had oocytes and the female ovaries had spermatogonia. Pollock et al (2010) cite
two earlier studies that also observed these abnormalities in walleye collected from the Wabigoon
River. Drawing from the literature, they explore the possible contribution of hypoxia (low oxygen
39
levels) with PME and/or MWW contributing to the development of intersex fish in the Wabigoon
River. Pollock et al did not find abnormalities in fish collected further (35 46 km) downstream.

Field observations of water quality

There are no contemporary data for water quality. Some water quality data were collected during the
study conducted by the Canada-Ontario Mercury Study Steering Committee (presented in Parks et al
(1984)). The data would have been collected after the mercury was discharged into the river and
before widespread and systemic logging in ANAs territory.

I had several opportunities to observed water quality from a boat while sampling many of the lakes in
ANAs territory. The water seemed unnaturally high in particulate matter (aka total suspended solids)
for water in this region. This is concerning because of associations one has with suspended particles,
such as contaminants, reduced availability of sunlight and visibility, increased rates of respiration, and
lower levels of oxygen. Given all the changes to the land and the water in ANAs territory over the
years, and given that changes to the land affect downstream waters, a survey of basic water quality
parameters in ANAs territory and a comparison of the data with water quality guidelines is warranted.

My observations of Garden Lake, which is one of the two lakes bordering the community of ANA, lead
to me to conclude that it is highly eutrophic (i.e. contaminated with nutrient pollution). I observed a
substantial and gross cyanobacterial bloom34 during the summer of more than one year. The fact that
I also witnessed this in the month of October is an indication of its extended seasonal occupation. A
cyanobacterial bloom is never a good thing from either an environmental, ecological, or human
health perspective. From a human health perspective, cyanobacteria produce toxins, which at critical
levels can be a health threat if the water is used as source for drinking water and/or swimming.35
Certainly the reports of children getting sores from swimming in this lake36 indicate that the water
quality of Garden Lake is both an environmental and a human health issue and suggest the need for
attention.

THE WHISKEY JACK FOREST

Henschel and Pearce (2007) use numerical and spatial data to assess the health of the Whiskey Jack
Forest (WJF)37 in the context of current and future logging practices and in accordance with eight

34
my field observations were confirmed by identification using microscopy

35
cyanobacterial blooms are often the reason public beaches are closed during the summer.

36
an Elder told me this during the ANA-Ontario Mercury Working Group meeting in June (2014), adding to my
long-held concerns about the condition of Garden Lake.

37
The WJF one of 49 Forest Management Units of the Ontario Government
40
sustainability indicators, compliance with Ministry of Natural Resources forestry rules, and standards
developed by the Forest Stewardship Council. The reader is referred to their report for a presentation
of their data and to Section 7 of this report for summary of their assessment of forest health. The
authors make seven major recommendations aimed at reversing negative ecological trends and
optimizing a sustainable forestry practice.

In 2010, KBM Forestry Consultants published an Independent Forest Audit for the Whiskey Jack
Forest for the 2004-2009 period. They identified serious weaknesses in both the planning and the
implementation of the plan (for example, the use/inclusion of Natural Benchmarks and of moose
shelter patches, to name a few of many.) They conclude that the model forest for the Forest
Management Plan (FMP) and the natural forest described in the FMP are inconsistent.

Traplines

There are 41 traplines in ANAs traditional territory, the collective outer boundary of which fall within
the boundaries of the Whiskey Jack Forest (WJF). This means that logging and its effects occur in
trapline areas. Indeed, about 15% of two traplines in the northern part of the WJF have been clear-
cut (Henschel and Pearce, 2007).

The boundaries of the 41 traplines are the same today as they were in 1947 38 (Armitage et al, 2010).
As of 2010, thirty of the 41 traplines (73%) were held by people of ANA; 2 were held by people of
WIN and 9 were held by non-Anishinaabe people. In the past, the ANA band government purchased a
trapline to allow for its transfer to a band member. Such actions are consistent with goals of the
Trappers Council of ANA, one of which is to repatriate traplines and keep them under community
control (Armitage et al, 2010). There is no initiative within the Ontario Government that would result
in the repatriation of traplines to the people of ANA.

Use and occupancy spatial data were also collected (using map biography methods) from ANAs
trapline holders and then mapped. Seven maps (Maps 4 10) are of the use of the traditional
territory whereas five maps (Maps 11 15) are of the occupancy. These maps appear as part of a
report, the authors of which (Armitage et al (2010), acknowledge that gaps in the data exist because
only half of the trapline holders participated in the study. The authors recommend efforts be made to
fill in data gaps.

38
1947 was the year of implementation of the registered trapline system managed by the Government of
Ontario
41
Field observations by trappers and hunters

One of the things that initiated the contaminants in wild foods study were the repeated observations
made by trappers and hunters of disease and sickness among animals. Symptoms include unusual
spots, textures, or colors of flesh and organs, declining fitness and populations of some fur-bearing
mammals, and strange animal behaviours (Simpson and DaSilva, 2005). The contaminant studies
suggest that the sicknesses observed are not directly related to chemical contamination or, more
specifically, not related to the group of contaminants included in the studies. Further investigations
as to the cause of sickness among animals are needed. Further sampling efforts need to include
better documentation of the symptoms and pathological examinations of affected tissues for cancers
or other diseases suspected to cause the observed symptoms.

In addition to sicknesses among moose, the people of Grassy have also noticed a decline in numbers.
There are fewer moose and caribou in ANAs territory now than there used to be and a decline in
moose has been particularly noticed in the past 10 years (J. DaSilva, pers. comm. Nov. 2014).

42
6. STATE OF ECOLOGICAL HEALTH

HEALTH OF THE WATER

Health assessments are possible when observations are compared to reference values. Sometimes
these are historical, background, or normal levels. Other times they can be established guidelines.
Two guidelines used in Canada that overlap with existing ecological data available for ANAs territory
are:

a) the sediment quality guideline for the protection of aquatic life. This can be applied to the
most recent sediment data; and

b) the tissue residue guideline for the protection of wildlife consumers of aquatic biota. This
can be applied to the most recent crayfish data. 39

Because of the important role sediment plays in facilitating the bioavailability of mercury, and
because sediment quality guidelines are used in Ecological Risk Assessments (ERAs), I will begin this
section with a comparison of the most recent sediment data to available guidelines.

Current levels of sediment mercury and Sediment Water Quality Guidelines

At the time of the Ontario-Canada Wabigoon River Study (late 1970s, early 1980s), sediment quality
guidelines did not exist. Since, then, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
established sediment quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life such that the guidelines are
used not only to i) assess sediment quality, ii) set targets for long-term ecosystem health, and iii)
develop site-specific, management objectives (CCME, 1995).

The CCME developed two effect levels (i.e. concentrations) for mercury in sediment (CCME, 1999):
TEL and PEL (defined below). Environment Canada and Ministre du Dveloppement durable, de
lEnvrionnement et des Parcs de Qubec (EC and MDDEP) adopted and expanded on these to
accommodate the range of pollution conditions that exist in Quebec sediments (EC and MDDEP,
2007). Using the same methods as the CCME, they established an REL, OEL, and an FEL. The
combined five sediment quality guidelines are presented in Table 10.

39
water quality guidelines also exist but there are no water quality data to apply to them.
43

Table 10. Sediment quality guidelines used in Canada.

Sediment mercury
concentration guideline
(ng mercury/ g dry wt)
Rare effect concentration (REL)

Threshold effect concentration (TEL)
94
170
Occasional effect concentration (OEL)
250
Probable effect concentration (PEL)
486
Frequent effect concentration (FEL)
870

Guidance narrative
Benchmarks for preventing
contamination/adverse effects and
maintaining healthy populations
Value above which adverse effects are
anticipated in many benthic species;
threshold value governing the
management of dredged sediment
disposal;
Value above which adverse biological
effects is expected; used to provide
guidance for remediation decisions; value
above which in depth analysis of
advantages vs. disadvantages of
remediation should be undertaken;
Value used to provide guidance for
remediation decisions; the level above
which adverse effects are anticipated in
most benthic species; indication that the
site should be remediated; above which
open-water disposal prohibited & other
management option should be sought.

Clay Lake: In 2004, the surface sediment values in Clay Lake were measured to be 2 000 (west basin)
and 800 (east basin) ng/g dry wt. Combined, this places them above the FEL guideline established by
the EC and MDDEP. The FEL level can trigger yes to the question is there adverse ecological risk
and thus initiate remediation.

Wabigoon River upstream of Clay Lake. The mercury in the surface sediment (as revealed by one
sediment core) of Shallow Lake (a shallow, open-water area associated with a bend in the Wabigoon
River) was 2 200 ng/g dry wt in 2008. This value, and my estimated values for upstream sediments of
600 2 000 (see Section 5 above) also situates the Wabigoon River sediments above the FEL level.

Ball Lake, south basin. The mercury in the surface sediment of south basin of Ball Lake as of 2007
were about 320 ng/g dry wet, placing them between the OEL and PEL levels.

Grassy Narrows and Indian Lakes. The mercury in the surface sediment of Grassy Narrows and Indian
Lakes as of 2004 were about 125 250 ng/g dry wt, placing them between the TEL and OEL levels.
The level of mercury in uncontaminated sediment typically considered <100.

44
It is important to keep in mind that the trends in mercury levels in surface sediment are different Clay
Lake vs. two downstream lakes. In Clay Lake they are stabilizing but downstream in the south basin of
Ball Lake and in Tetu Lake they are increasing. The increasing trends are best explained by the
addition of mercury-enriched particles from upstream and upland sources, though the relative
contribution of each of these has not been estimated. Regardless, it means that the south Basin of
Ball Lake and mostly likely all other downstream basins have the potential to graduate from TEL and
OEL levels to a PEL level over the long term.

Current levels of crayfish mercury and Tissue Residue Guidelines

There is a guideline level of mercury in tissue of aquatic organisms that is the benchmark for the
protection of wildlife that consume those organisms. It is 33 ng/g wet wt (CCME, 2001). The average
mercury in the abdominal muscle of the crayfish collected from the Wabigoon-English River system
(between 2004 and 2008) ranges from 500 (Ball Lake, south basin) to 70 (Tetu Lake).40 This places all
the crayfish well above the guideline level of 33, but those collected at Tetu Lake within the normal
range for the region (Sellers, 2011). Crayfish are efficient at bioaccumulating mercury (Headon et al,
1996) and are eaten by many other animals (otter, mink, fish, herons, turtles). As such, changes in
crayfish mercury signal changes in mercury transfer to their predators. It is not known what mercury
levels adversely affect the individual crayfish or their populations.

Current levels of fish mercury and Tissue Residue Guidelines

We do not have data for mercury levels in small fish and therefore cannot assess them relative to the
33 ng/g wet wt guideline. We know that larger fish have mercury levels much higher than this (see
Section 5). The literature would need to be consulted to determine what level of mercury adversely
affects individual fish or their populations.

HEALTH OF THE LAND41

Since the poisoning of the water with mercury from the mill in Dryden in the 1960s, assaults on
environmental health have expanded to include upland (i.e. land) areas of the watershed where
there has been substantial removal of the trees by clear-cut logging, habitat and trapline
fragmentation from clear-cuts, logging roads, and power transmission lines, and the application of
herbicides associated with tree plantations and transmission line management. Documented

40
There are no recent data for Clay Lake

41
Readers are referred to earlier pages of this report for specifics of and exceptions to these general
statements.

45
ecological health effects associated with these land-uses can be found in assessments of forest health
and management. Below is a presentation of the most recent of these.

Health of The Whiskey Jack Forest

Henschel and Pearce (2007) evaluated the health of Whiskey Jack Forest. Their overall conclusion is
that the forest is in bad shape and, at the time (c. 2004), there was a forest sustainability crisis.
Observations that led them to this assessment include but are not limited to:

a) The WJF is excessively fragmented by 807 kms of logging roads;

b) There are few intact patches of forest, upland habitat corridors and riverine habitat corridors;

c) The WJF is experiencing and will experience unnaturally low levels of old growth;

d) The WJF no longer has useful woodland caribou habitat as a result of logging;

e) Areas identified by forest managers as marten cores (patches of forest suitable for marten
habitation) do not actually contain suitable habitat;

f) Abitibi Consolidated Inc (ACI) generally complies with operational rule to protect current
environmental values but violates government guidelines designed to protect marten habitat;
and

g) The protected areas network within the WJF is incomplete.

The authors make seven major recommendations aimed at reversing negative ecological trends and
optimizing a sustainable forestry practice. Given that their data are about 10 years old, an updated
spatial analysis of land use and type in the WJF is recommended. It will be necessary not only for
accurately tracking trends in forest habitat and health but identifying key sites for analyses of the
effects of catchment disturbances on associated aquatic ecosystems.

In 2010, KBM Forestry Consultants published an Independent Forest Audit for the Whiskey Jack
Forest for the 2004-2009. They identified serious weaknesses in both the planning and the
implementation of the plan proposed by the forestry industry and their assessment led them to
conclude forest sustainability, as assessed through the Independent Forest Audit Process and
Protocol, will not be achieved unless corrective measures are immediately taken KBM Forestry
Consultants directs twenty-one recommendations to forest managers as part of their 2010 report.

Between these two documents it is clear that there is a serious decline in forest health in the Whisky
Jack Forest attributable to forest removal and management. Moreover, there is potential for it to
deteriorate even more without remediation incorporated into current Forest Management Plans. The
forestry practices outlined in the most recent Forest Management Plan (Whiskey Jack Forest 490
46
Final Plan Phase 1 2012 2022 available at http://www.efmp.lrc.gov.on.ca/eFMP/), slated to be

implemented in 2015, suggest that in the future there will be fewer or no patches of old growth
forest, fewer or no patches of marten or woodland caribou habitat, increased fragmentation of all
forest habitat, depletion of upland and riverine habitat corridors, altered forest micro-climate, and
altered drainage patterns. All of these are indicative of degraded health.

Health of the animal populations

One of the things that initiated the contaminants in wild foods study were the repeated observations
made by trappers and hunters of disease and sickness among animals (see section 5). Both habitat
and individual health affect numbers and a decline in both leads to a decline in populations. Indeed,
the people of Grassy have also noticed a decline in numbers of moose and caribou, and particularly of
moose in the past 10 years (J. DaSilva, pers. comm., Nov. 2014). There have been no population
studies of animals of concern in ANAs territory. Population data need to be included as a benchmark
of forest health.

Contaminants in animals

Generally speaking, and with few exceptions, the wild foods contaminant studies suggests that the
animals of the forest have had low exposure to the contaminants selected for study. With the
exception of a) mercury in samples collected from top predators of aquatic ecosystems and b)
cadmium in kidneys and livers of certain animals, most of the animals tested in ANAs territory had
relatively little or no detectable amounts of the other contaminants (chlorinated organic compounds,
VOCs, metals see Section 5) for which measurement was attempted.

The effect of current exposure to mercury on the reproduction or behavior of animals and fish in
ANAs territory is not known.

Although comparison data are very limited, there is some suggestion (with three exceptions listed
below) that the contaminants in the wild meat of ANAs territory are somewhat similar to those
measured in wild meat harvested from other regions of Canada.42 The exceptions are of i) mercury in
the flesh of carnivorous fish and otter, in which case the data suggest that ANAs territory show
higher levels (Sellers, 2005a; Neff et al, 2012) ii) mercury in the liver of mink, in which case the data
suggest that ANAs territory show lower levels (Sellers, 2005b), and iii) OC pesticides in the flesh of
walleye, in which case the data suggest that ANAs territory show lower levels than they are in Lake
Winnipeg (Sellers, 2005c).

42
No assumption is made about whether or not these other regions are contaminated.
47
LOOKING AHEAD: LINKING THE LAND AND THE WATER

Watershed and upland disturbances, particularly in a region dominated by Precambrian Shield
bedrock (where water tends to flow off rather than through the land), have strong potential to alter
the ecology and food webs of the streams, wetlands, rivers, and lakes receiving run-off water. This is
particularly the case when the size of the disturbance is relatively large compared to the size of the
receiving water body. Given the history and occurrence of logging in ANAs territory, this is an activity
that has undoubtedly contributed to degraded downstream water quality, as has been shown in
many studies elsewhere in the boreal.

Several studies in the past two decades have investigated the degree to which logging in the boreal
and subsequent site preparation for tree planting affect mercury movement within catchments.
Logging has been a common disturbance throughout the catchments of ANAs territory in the past
few decades but the effect on downstream ecosystems, including mercury transport to lake, has not
been studied. What follows are brief summaries of some of studies conducted elsewhere in the
boreal on the effect of logging and fire on downstream mercury in lakes. There are others than need
to be eventually incorporated into this discussion, I include it because I believe it will be necessary to
address upland disturbances in a long-term water quality plan.

Logging and downstream mercury. One of the first studies to suggest extensive logging
activities increases mercury levels in aquatic biota was Garcia and Carignan (2000) who studied
boreal lakes in Quebec. Since then, several studies have shown that logging (Garcia and Carignan,
2005; Desrosiers et al, 2006; Garcia et al, 2007; Bishop et al, 2009) and associated site preparation for
planting (Eklof et al, 2014) significantly contribute to enhanced export of mercury to downstream
boreal ecosystems and aquatic food webs lakes when compared to reference (unlogged) lakes.

The effect of logging in ANAs territory on downstream mercury has not been studied. Given the
extent of logging and the numbers of lakes, the potential for logging to influence mercury dynamics
(directly or indirectly)43 in lakes should be further investigated. This could and should include lakes
that are used for fishing by the people of ANA in the northern part of their territory and/or in the
English River upstream of Ball Lake. Lakes that are part of river systems behave differently than lakes
that are not.

Fire and downstream mercury. A few studies have also investigated the effects of forest fire on
downstream mercury export and bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs but the data are not as
consistent as they are for logging. For example, Garcia and Carignan (2000) examined northern pike
in burned vs. reference boreal lakes and found the mercury levels between them were not
significantly different. Garcia and Carignan (2005) examined several species of fish and found
comparable mercury levels between burnt and reference lakes. Garcia et al (2007) showed the same

43
directly by exporting mercury and indirectly, for example, by affecting oxic/anoxic boundaries in bottom
waters
48
for zooplankton with added statistical significance. Kelly et al (2006), however, working in alpine
lakes, showed significantly enhanced fish mercury accumulation due to burning. They hypothesize
that fire characteristics (including proportion of catchment burn and severity of burn) will influence
this difference among fire-affected lakes.

LOOKING AHEAD: LINKING LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Forest Management Plans include measures for the protection of water quality. What is interesting
from a downstream (i.e. water quality) perspective is what those measures actually are. One of
them is to look at the relative number of inspected forest operations compliant/non-compliant with
prescriptions developed for the protection of water quality and fish (see FMP-9 of the current FMP
(Whiskey Jack Forest 490 Final Plan Phase 1 2012 2022)44. These prescriptions seem to include
only upland measures (such as riparian reserves, implementation and maintenance of water
crossings, and incidence of erosion of unstable slopes), none of which actually measure water quality
or fish habitat. It seems reasonable to suggest, therefore, that if the stated objective of forest
management practice is to protect water quality and fisheries habitat, then the prescriptions needs
to include a measure of some aspect of water quality and/or fisheries habitat or both. This would
bring together forest and water quality management, and begin the creation of a watershed
approach to resource use and water protection in ANAs territory.

44
available at http://www.efmp.lrc.gov.on.ca/eFMP/
49
7. ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT (ERA) AND THE WABIGOON

RIVER

Ecological risk assessment is a process that evaluates the probability for adverse ecological effects
occurring as a result of exposure to contaminants or other stressors.45 The assessed risk, along with
other information, is then used in management decisions, such as whether or not to remediate a site,
or what the best remediation practice might be. ERAs are typically conducted after areas or situations
of concern are identified. Usually ERAs are conducted for sediments and soils.

Below I will outline the basic steps in an ERA, and indicate where existing data for ANAs territory fit
in. This section of the report is in response to the question Do we have enough data/information to
conduct an ERA, and, if not, what kind of data do we need to collect?

There are three steps in a typical ERA used to assess the ecological risk of contaminated sediment.

Step 1 of an ERA identifies stressors of that could cause adverse effects and initial screenings
of the levels of the stressors in the sediment are conducted. These levels are then compared
to reference conditions and/or guidelines (such as those provided by the CCME) and the
comparison (i.e. greater or less than) determines progression to step 2.

This step has been completed for ANA with existing data. The stressor is mercury, and the sediment
data show that both basins of Clay Lake, one upstream site on the Wabigoon River, and an estimate
of the current levels of mercury in the Wabigoon River between Clay Lake and Dryden are above the
FEL (frequent adverse effect level) established by the EC and MDDEP (2007; See Section 6 above). In
the ERA used in the St. Lawrence Action Plan 2011-2026 (MDDEP and EC, 2013), sediments that
exceed the FEL level trigger the decision for remediation and whether to do so by sediment
containment or removal (as opposed to open water disposal), effectively ending the ERA process for
such sites.

With the exception of one sample from one site in 2008, the concentration in the surface sediments
of the Wabigoon River upstream of Clay Lake has not been measured since 1980. Updated data are
needed for a current assessment of sediment quality.

Step 2 of an ERA identifies how exposure of the contaminant is likely to occur (that is, form or
route) and to assess what types of adverse effects may occur under this exposure. This step is
usually accomplished by determining three things: a) the toxicity of the sediment according
to standardized tests, b) the impairment of the benthic invertebrate community structure
and c) the potential for biomagnification of the contaminant. The results in these categories
determine (yes or no) progression to step 3.

45
Canada-Ontario Decision-Making Framework for Assessment of Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment
50
With respect to a) and b), standardized sediment toxicity tests and assessment of benthic
invertebrate community structures have not been conducted at any sites in ANAs territory. With
respect to c) we know that mercury has bioaccumulated in crayfish (and likely other benthic
invertebrates) and fish, and the predators of these. Moreover, we know that the mercury in these (at
some sites along the Wabigoon-English River) is elevated relative to reference sites and or tissue
residue guidelines. The potential for bioaccumulation has been realized, we know how exposure has
occurred (through the food web), and we know the effects on humans of eating mercury
contaminated fish. ERA professionals need to decide if this is enough to proceed to step 3 in the
absence of benthic community assessments and standardized sediment toxicity tests. If these are
determined necessary, they would need to be conducted for selected sites where the levels of
sediment mercury warrant such assessments.

Step 3 of an ERA is to conduct further assessments, using several lines of evidence,46 in order
to estimate the incidence and severity of adverse effects. An estimate of the probability of
risk is presented and discussed and, depending on this estimate and other factors,
management actions are required or not required.

Given that
a) Clay Lake and probably several upstream sites are well above FEL levels of sediment
quality guidelines (see Section 6);
b) some scientists concluded long ago that the mercury in contaminated surface sediments
along the river will continue to be a sources of mercury for bioaccumulation (Jackson,
1984; Parks and Hamilton, 1987);
c) preferred fish, sediment, and crayfish at surveyed sites remain elevated (half a century
after the discharge of mercury began) with respect to both background and guideline
levels; and
d) that people have been adversely affected for a few generations as a result of eating the
fish,

it seems reasonable to suggest that limited further data are needed to complete this step of an ERA,
at least for the portion of the Wabigoon River between Dryden and the outflow of Clay Lake. In other
words, there is probably enough information for ERA professionals to make at least a provisional
statement about the level of ecological risk posed by the sediments in the Wabigoon River. I predict
that with updated sediment mercury data, ERA professionals would select yes to the question Do
the sediments pose ecological risk? If so, the questions then focus on risk management and/or
remediation goals for this section of the Wabigoon River.

46
lines of evidence can include but are not limited to field observations, laboratory studies, model predictions,
relevant literature, professional judgment

51
8. REMEDIATION OF THE WABIGOON RIVER REVISITED

NATURAL RECOVERY

To date there is no record that the three recommendations for remediation proposed 30 years ago
(discussed below) were implemented. This means that only natural recovery of the Wabigoon-
English River system has been underway since 1970. There is ample evidence of recovery in fish,
sediment, and crayfish mercury at several sites along the river. But, given that mercury levels have
not yet returned to normal levels at affected sites, earlier predictions that natural recovery alone
would mean sustained levels in fish for decades have been realized. 47,48

The contemporary discussion of the effects of natural recovery needs to focus on recent trends in
stabilization and/or increase in mercury levels in some parts of some lakes. Stabilization trends exist
in Clay Lake sediment mercury and top predator fish in Clay Lake and other lake basins. In Clay Lake,
the sediment mercury has is showing a stabilization trend at a level 8 to 20 times background levels
(Sellers, 2005) whereas the latest reports of top predator fish mercury in this lake (Neff et al, 2012)
are at a level, possibly a stabilizing one, that is 2 15 times above consumption guideline levels
(depending on which guideline is the reference). Stabilization of both surface sediment mercury and
fish mercury, where they occur, suggests localized steady state conditions, the duration of which
cannot be known but like all trend data, are important in predicting ecosystem recovery.

THE ROLE OF CLAY LAKE IN NATURAL RECOVERY

During the time of the mercury spill into the Wabigoon River at Dryden, there was no on-site settling
pond49 to treat the chlor-alkali effluent before it was discharged. This means that raw effluent was
dumped directly into the Wabigoon River. Mercury-enriched particles became part of the sediment
all along the Wabigoon River such that mercury levels were extremely elevated above background
levels (Parks et al, 1984)). The first lake basins to receive mercury-enriched particles were those of
Clay Lake. As such, they became a settling pond and scavenged much of the mercury from the water
flowing through its basin, thereby preventing it from movement further downstream. Estimates of

47
page 386 of Jackson (1984): Natural processes alone would take and excessively long time (long, that is,
compared with the lifetimes of the people whose health and economic well-being have been adversely
affected by the mercury pollution).
48
page 327 of Parks et al (1984): mercury concentrations in adult walleye and northern pike will remain well
above background levels for the foreseeable future, if no remedial measures are undertaken
49
a settling (retention) pond traps particles so that they are not released downstream. Retention ponds are
standard primary treatment for any particle-rich effluent

52
the percent of the discharged mercury that ended up in the sediment of Clay Lake (as of 1980) range
from 25 to 77% (Jackson, 1984; Parks et al, 1984). The staggering levels of mercury buried deep in
sediment of Clay Lake (Lockhart et al, 2000; Sellers, 2005) support this.

THE GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS OF CLAY LAKE

The relatively good news of Clay Lake, apart from the fact that mercury levels in fish and sediment
have declined over the years, is offered by the sediment and is twofold. First, that that the mercury
buried way deep in the sediment of Clay Lake is not available for methylation or bioaccumulation in
the food web (unless of course, it is brought to the surface of the sediment). Moreover, Clay Lake
continues to act as a settling pond for some fraction of the particles in the water passing through its
basin, thereby preventing their travel further downstream.

The relatively bad news, in addition to the fact that mercury levels in fish and sediment remain
elevated above natural levels, is also twofold. First, the most recent sediment data (2004) place Clay
Lake sediment above threshold values that trigger further testing and the exploration of management
options (such as open-water or on-land disposal -- see section 6). Second, two sites downstream of
Clay Lake show a trend of increase in mercury in surface sediment. This suggests the movement of
mercury-enriched particles from up- to downstream over time. The origin of sediment experiencing
re-location could be anywhere along the Wabigoon River, including Clay Lake and further upstream.
Whether or not they contribute to food web mercury in their new lake has not been determined,
but the spatial sediment trends have relevancy in predicting long-term recovery of the river system.

EARLY REMEDIATION STUDIES AND PROPOSALS

A component (Section 8) of the report prepared by The Steering Committee of the Canada-Ontario
Wabigoon-English River Mercury Study is a discussion of remediation strategies. Remediation options
were explored in the context of the understanding and prediction that natural recovery of the system
to acceptable levels would take several decades. They were also explored in the context of field and
experimental data collected as a means of identifying remediation options. The report discusses six
options for remediation. The three that were not investigated in detail and were not recommended
are:

i.
to flush the contaminated sediment further downstream, using natural or accelerated river
flows;
ii.
to mix contaminated (surface) with uncontaminated (deeper) sediment, such that result is
surface sediment with lower mercury; and
iii.
to divert the Wabigoon River, such that the most contaminated portion (upstream of Clay
Lake) is isolated and is replaced by a new river channel.

The three that were investigated in more detail and were recommended in this order are:
53

i.
ii.
iii.
dredge, remove, and isolate contaminated sediment from the river, thereby reducing the
mercury available for accumulation in food webs;
cover contaminated sediment in Clay Lake with clean sediment (thereby mimicking natural
sedimentation processes), which would bury the contaminated sediment and minimize
mercury feedback; and
semi-continuous and ongoing suspension of clean sediment at selected sites along the river
to scavenge and store mercury (mobilized/released from upstream deposits) in the sediment
downstream

Re i) Removal and confinement of river sediments between Dryden and Clay Lake. In particular, Parks
et al. (1984) recommend dredging of the 62 km reach of the Wabigoon River between Dryden and
Hwy 105 crossing. Before making this recommendation, the authors a) discuss the short-term (in situ)
and long-term (downstream) effects of accidentally or incidentally re-suspended, mercury-enriched
sediments. Jackson (1984) also cautioned of a temporary aggravation of the mercury problem
induced by dredging but emphasizes the importance of sediment removal (particularly mercury
contaminated wood fragments) upstream of the Wainwright Dam.

Re ii) cover contaminated sediment in Clay Lake with clean sediment. Parks et al (1984) point out
that this option would only work if dredging upstream occurred. Jackson (1984) further expand on
this option and suggest injecting uncontaminated sediment (from Wabigoon Lake/Eagle River) near
Dryden and allow natural flow and sedimentation cover remaining sediment. They discuss ways of
preventing the clean sediment from settling out behind the Wainwright Dam before it can reach
target sites, such as Clay Lake.

Re iii) semi-continuous and ongoing suspension of clean sediment at selected sites along the river.
Parks et al (1984) point out that this option needs further investigation, particularly in the form of
field trials, and that it hinges on the degree of mercury enrichment in the water column at selected
sites. Rudd et al (1983) and Parks and Hamilton (1987) provide more discussion of this option.

CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT FOR RENEWED DISCUSSIONS

Any renewed discussion of remediation of the Wabigoon-English River needs to

a) include the people of ANA and their Treaty rights;

b) consult the joint Canada-Ontario report (WERMSSC, 1984), which includes summaries of
reports commissioned by engineering firms to investigate practical feasibility of options;

54
c) be mindful that ecological and pollution contexts for the earlier proposals have changed50;

d) respond to an update on the mercury levels in the sediment of the Wabigoon River and
compare the data to that acquired in 1980 and to sediment quality guidelines;

e) be evaluated in the context of contemporary understanding of mercury behavior and cycling
in aquatic ecosystems, such as processes affecting mercury mobility, transport, methylation,
sediment accumulation and bioaccumulation; and

f)

be evaluated in the context of the ecological risks associated with proposed remediation
strategies.

50
Particles accumulating as sediment declined in mercury over time, and while these were not clean
sediment particles, they are cleaner particles than the previous ones and their addition lowered the
mercury in surface sediment by dilution. Natural recovery is accomplishing, in part, what the
addition of clean sediment would have accomplished.
55
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Water Air Soil Pollut. 97: 85-90

61
APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. MAP OF THE WABIGOON-ENGLISH RIVER SYSTEM

Map of the Wabigoon-English River system copied from Kinghorn et al (2007).

62
APPENDIX B. PARTIAL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS RELEVANT TO PRE-NATAL EXPOSURE TO MERCURY

Burbacher, TM, Grant KS, Mayfield DB, Gilbert SG, and Rice DC. 2005. Prenatal methymercury exposure affects
spatial vision in adult monkeys. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 208: 21-8

Boucher, Olivier; Bastien, Celyne H.; Saint-Amour, Dave; et al. 2010. Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and
PCBs affects distinct stages of information processing: An event-related potential study with Inuit
children. Neurotoxicol. 31: 373-384

Cao, Yang; Chen, Aimin; Jones, Robert L.; et al. 2010. Does background postnatal methyl mercury exposure in
toddlers affect cognition and behavior? Neurotoxicol. 31: 1-9

Gandhi, Dinesh N.; Panchal, Govind M.; Dhull, Dinesh K. 2013. INFLUENCE OF GESTATIONAL EXPOSURE ON THE
EFFECTS OF PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO METHYL MERCURY ON POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT IN RATS
CENTRAL EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Pages: 30-35

Grandjean, P.; Landrigan, P. J. 2006 Developmental neurotoxicity of industrial chemicals . LANCET Volume:
368 Issue: 9553 Pages: 2167-2178

Grandjean, Philippe; Landrigan, Philip J. 2014. Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. LANCET
NEUROLOGY Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Pages: 330-338

Grandjean, P; Weihe, P; White, RF; et al. 1998. Cognitive performance of children prenatally exposed to "safe"
levels of methylmercury. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Volume: 77 Issue: 2 Pages: 165-172

Johansson, Carolina; Castoldi, Anna F.; Onishchenko, Natalia; et al. 2007. Neurobehavioural and molecular
changes induced by methylmercury exposure during development NEUROTOXICITY
RESEARCH Volume: 11 Issue: 3-4 Pages: 241-260.

Jurewicz, Joanna; Polanska, Kinga; Hanke, Wojciech. 2013. Chemical exposure early in life and the
neurodevelopment of children - an overview of current epidemiological evidence

ANNALS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Pages: 465-486

Lam, Hugh Simon; Kwok, Ka Ming; Chan, Peggy Hiu Ying; et al. 2013. Long term neurocognitive impact of low
dose prenatal methylmercury exposure in Hong Kong . ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL Volume:
54 Pages: 59-64

Li, Yong-Jin; Fang, Qing; Zhang, Chun-Xia; et al. 2005. Effects of prenatal methylmercury exposure on learning
and memory ability of mice and ultrastructure of hippocampus neurons in mice Wei sheng yan jiu =
Journal of hygiene research Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Pages: 284-6

Llop, Sabrina; Lopez-Espinosa, Maria-Jose; Rebagliato, Marisa; et al. 2013. Gender differences in the
neurotoxicity of metals in children . TOXICOLOGY Volume: 311 Issue: 1-2 Pages: 3-12

Myers, GJ; Davidson, PW. 2000. Does methylmercury have a role in causing developmental disabilities in
children? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES Volume: 108 Supplement: 3 Pages: 413-420

Myers, GJ; Davidson, PW; Shamlaye, CF. 1998. A review of methylmercury and child development.
NEUROTOXICOLOGY Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Pages: 313-328
63

Newland, M. Christopher; Paletz, Elliott M.; Reed, Miranda N. 2008. Methylmercury and nutrition: Adult effects
of fetal exposure in experimental models. NEUROTOXICOLOGY Volume: 29 Issue: 5 Special Issue:
SI Pages: 783-801

Onishchenko, Natalia; Tamm, Christoffer; Vahter, Marie; et al. 2007. Developmental exposure to
methylmercury alters learning and induces depression-like behavior in male mice TOXICOLOGICAL
SCIENCES Volume: 97 Issue: 2 Pages: 428-437

Radonjic, Marijana; Cappaert, Natalie L. M.; de Vries, Erik F. J.; et al. 2013. Delay and Impairment in Brain
Development and Function in Rat Offspring After Maternal Exposure to Methylmercury
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES Volume: 133 Issue: 1 Pages: 112-124

Schoeman, Katherine; Bend, John R.; Hill, Julie; et al. 2009. Defining a Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Hair
Concentrations of Mercury for Neurodevelopmental Effects of Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure
Through Maternal Fish Consumption: A Systematic Review THERAPEUTIC DRUG
MONITORING Volume: 31 Issue: 6 Pages: 670-682

Sorensen, N; Murata, K; Budtz-Jorgensen, E; et al. 1999. Prenatal methylmercury exposure as a cardiovascular
risk factor at seven years of age EPIDEMIOLOGY Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Pages: 370-375

Tatsuta, Nozomi; Nakai, Kunihiko; Murata, Katsuyuki; et al. 2012. Prenatal exposures to environmental
chemicals and birth order as risk factors for child behavior problems ENVIRONMENTAL
RESEARCH Volume: 114 Pages: 47-52

Thurston, Sally W.; Bovet, Pascal; Myer, Gary J.; et al. 2007. Does prenatal methylmercury exposure from fish
consumption affect blood pressure in childhood? NEUROTOXICOLOGY Volume: 28 Issue: 5 Pages:
924-930

Valera, Beatriz; Muckle, Gina; Poirier, Paul; et al. 2012. Cardiac autonomic activity and blood pressure among
Inuit children exposed to mercury . NEUROTOXICOLOGY Volume: 33 Issue: 5 Pages: 1067-1074

Watanabe, C; Yin, K; Kasanuma, Y; et al. 1999. In utero exposure to methylmercury and Se deficiency
converge on the neurobehavioral outcome in mice . NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND
TERATOLOGY Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Pages: 83-88

Weihe, Pal; Hansen, Jens C; Murata, Katsuyuki; et al. 2002. Neurobehavioral performance of Inuit
children with increased prenatal exposure to methylmercury. International journal of
circumpolar health Volume: 61 Issue: 1 Pages: 41-9

Weiss, B, Clarkson, TW, Simon W. 2002. Silent latency periods in methymercury poisoning and in
neurogenetive disease. Environ. Health Perspect. 110 (S5): 851-854.

See also the many references of pages 31 & 32 of Chan and Mergler (2010)

64
APPENDIX C. BIOGRAPHY OF P. SELLERS

Patricia Sellers is an associate professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North
Carolina (Pembroke). She teaches field courses in environmental science and biology and her course
responsibilities include Freshwater Ecosystems and Watershed Management, Pollution Ecology and
Field Microbiology. She also serves as the part-time executive director of the Lumber River
Conservancy.

Patricia specializes in water quality, effects of pollution, and mercury biogeochemistry. Since 2002,
Patricia has worked with First Nations in northwestern Ontario (on the Wabigoon-English River
System) and Eastern Manitoba. These community-driven research projects include surveys of
sediment, crayfish, and wild foods for mercury and other contaminants, and are examples of
Indigenous Knowledge and ecological science working together.

Patricia was educated in lake and watershed ecology at the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario and at
the University of Manitoba and received her PhD in 1997. She is a third-generation Canadian with
English and Scottish ancestry. Her hometown is Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba.

65

Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) - Sellers Final Report 2014

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HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH IN

ASUBPEESCHOSEEWAGONG NETUM ANISHINABEK

The government is not a very trusted steward of the

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Correct citation for this docum ent:

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

6. STATE OF ECOLOGICAL HEALTH ................................................................................................ 43

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

A coherent and coordinated research framework

Gaps in Communication, Education and Awareness

Opportunities for the training of outside scientists in cross-cultural research

Gaps in Information and Knowledge: Human Health

p) The effect of mercury exposure on development of children in ANA

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

k) Availability of Tolerable Intake Guidelines (as opposed to ppm guidelines). In

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

3. HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH TO DATE

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES

almost a decade ago by Chan et al (2005).

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

4. STATE OF HUMAN HEALTH

Hair samples were collected from ~7% of the on-reserve population.

5. ECOLOGICAL HEALTH RESEARCH TO DATE

* plain language summaries of reports

This is a minimum as more have surfaced since the original compilation.

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

resuming monitoring, ecological, or remediation studies and c) they contain discussions of

From the studies that include multiple sizes of fish

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

The WJF one of 49 Forest Management Units of the Ontario Government

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Field observations by trappers and hunters

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

6. STATE OF ECOLOGICAL HEALTH

Rare effect concentration (REL)

Occasional effect concentration (OEL)

Probable effect concentration (PEL)

Frequent effect concentration (FEL)

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Final Plan Phase 1 2012 2022 available at http://www.efmp.lrc.gov.on.ca/eFMP/), slated to be

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

LOOKING AHEAD: LINKING THE LAND AND THE WATER

7. ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT (ERA) AND THE WABIGOON

8. REMEDIATION OF THE WABIGOON RIVER REVISITED

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

Map of the Wabigoon-English River system copied from Kinghorn et al (2007).

Human and Ecological Health in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek, December 2014

APPENDIX B. PARTIAL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS RELEVANT TO PRE-NATAL EXPOSURE TO MERCURY