Damning research on selenium continues to pile up
"Since contamination of fish flesh by selenium is a human health issue one has to ask—Where is the due diligence of the government of Alberta?"
By Lorne Fitch
Another piece of research has just revealed the contamination of trout and mountain whitefish in Crowsnest Lake with selenium, derived from the legacy Tent Mountain coal strip mine (Fish remain high in selenium long after mountaintop coal mines close, GOA 2025).
Scientists from the government of Alberta have confirmed that “Fish in Crowsnest Lake contain tissue selenium concentrations (5–26 µg/g dry weight) that exceed guidelines and rival fish selenium levels downstream of active MTR[Mountaintop removal] operations.” These results are unnerving.
Read Lorne Fitch’s full article in The Lethbridge Herald . . .
National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), Science and Technology Branch is the organization (Federal) that collects data and information on pollutant releases from facilities including the air, water and land pollutants. The new section 75.1 of the amended CEPA states that "the Minister of the Environment shall compile and may amend from time to time a list that specifies substances that the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health have reason to suspect are capable of becoming toxic or that they have determined to be capable of becoming toxic" (the "Watch List") See resources. I plan to send to the https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/latest-news.html The NPRI data can be accessed here: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-pollutant-release-inventory/tools-resources-data/exploredata.html Explore data - Canada.ca
You can use the NPRI data search to search by Company or Facility name, substance name, location, etc
You can also use the NPRI Dashboard https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-pollutant-release-inventory/tools-resources-data/all-year-dashboard.html for a more interactive look at the data
Can also access Excel files or maps
If you have questions regarding NPRI reporting requirements or would like assistance using NPRI data, we have a special helpdesk for this purpose: inrp-npri@ec.gc.ca
Substances that are currently being provided as substances that are being used in our water, land and and air.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/canada-approach-chemicals/request-assess-substance-canadian-environmental-protection-act-1999.html
Also tomorrow Wednesday June 4, Environmental Defense is available to have access to how to speak with your MP and that could be a valuable tool when we ask our MPs to send any feedback and information on events like this.
Links
To register
To donate
https://act.environmentaldefence.ca/page/171393/petition/2
For emails to the Federal Government on these issues:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/canada-approach-chemicals/request-assess-substance-canadian-environmental-protection-act-1999.html#a5
Email Substances@ec.gc.ca
1-800-568-1999
cc Lisa Swain Lisa.swain@ec.gc.ca