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Mercury in Northern Québec: Role of the mercury agreement and status of research and monitoring

Mercury in Northern Québec: Role of the mercury agreement and status of research and monitoring In order to determine the nature and extent of the problem caused by the presence of mercury in the environment of the James Bay territory a Mercury Agreement was signed in 1986 jointly by the Crees, the Govemment of Québec and Hydro-Québec. The objectives were to minimize potential hazards to human health arising from the presence of mercury in the environment, to alleviate negative impacts on the Crees, their way of life and their harvesting activities and to provide for remedial measures. Monitoring of mercury concentrations in fish show that, 15 years after impounding of La Grande-2 reservoir, the concentrations remain higher in reservoirs than in natural lakes but they are now decreasing in both predatory (Northern pike) and non-predatory (Whitefish) fishes. Monitoring of the mercury exposure among the Crees showed that concentrations in hair have decreased and are now stabilized, for most of the population, to concentrations that do not present a health risk. This decrease may be attributed to a reduction in fish consumption and/or a possible switch of the diet towards non-piscivorous fish, less contaminated by mercury. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png "Water, Air, & Soil Pollution" Springer Journals

Mercury in Northern Québec: Role of the mercury agreement and status of research and monitoring

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References (3)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997
ISSN
0049-6979
eISSN
1573-2932
DOI
10.1007/bf02409646
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In order to determine the nature and extent of the problem caused by the presence of mercury in the environment of the James Bay territory a Mercury Agreement was signed in 1986 jointly by the Crees, the Govemment of Québec and Hydro-Québec. The objectives were to minimize potential hazards to human health arising from the presence of mercury in the environment, to alleviate negative impacts on the Crees, their way of life and their harvesting activities and to provide for remedial measures. Monitoring of mercury concentrations in fish show that, 15 years after impounding of La Grande-2 reservoir, the concentrations remain higher in reservoirs than in natural lakes but they are now decreasing in both predatory (Northern pike) and non-predatory (Whitefish) fishes. Monitoring of the mercury exposure among the Crees showed that concentrations in hair have decreased and are now stabilized, for most of the population, to concentrations that do not present a health risk. This decrease may be attributed to a reduction in fish consumption and/or a possible switch of the diet towards non-piscivorous fish, less contaminated by mercury.

Journal

"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution" – Springer Journals

Published: Jun 1, 1997

Keywords: Waste Water; Mercury; Water Management; Negative Impact; Water Pollution

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