Water quality issues: substances of emerging concern
Over the last few decades, new substances used in industrial processes and for the fabrication of consumer and pharmaceutical products are increasingly being detected in the environment. Among others, they can disrupt endocrine functions in wildlife. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance program assess the presence of various emerging substances and their levels in selected ecosystems.
Web articles
PBDE, contaminants of emerging concern accumulating in St. Lawrence food network
Samples of sediment, suspended matter, aquatic organisms and bird's egg were analysed to detect the presence of PBDEs in the food web and to determine the impact of wastewater discharges on the concentrations measured.
Since the launch of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), the Government of Canada has worked closely with health and environmental groups, consumer groups and industry to reduce risks to Canadians and our environment by setting clear priorities for the assessment and management of hundreds of chemicals.
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of substances used as flame retardants in a wide variety of products. Releases of PBDEs to the environment can occur during manufacturing and processing operations, throughout the service life of articles containing PBDEs, and when articles that contain PBDEs are disposed of. Studies indicate that PBDE levels in Canadian biota are rising, with increases in tissue concentrations evident over the last two decades.
Tracking Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): new chemical contaminants in the environment
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are widely used in industry due to their flame-retardant properties.Although they are useful, these substances accumulate in the environment, including the St. Lawrence River, and questions are being raised about their potential impacts.
Technical summaries, reports and scientific papers
The data from Environment Canada and the MDDELCC in this study are taken from 11 sampling sites: 8 on the St.Lawrence River and 1 at the mouth of the Ottawa, Richelieu and Saint-Maurice rivers.
From the city to the lake: Loadings of PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs and PCMs from Toronto to Lake Ontario
Loadings from Toronto, Canada to Lake Ontario were quantified and major sources and pathways were identified, with the goal of informing opportunities for loading reductions.
Flame Retardants and Legacy Chemicals in Great Lakes' Water (2014)
In 2011 and 2012, water samples from 18 stations on the five Great Lakes were collected and analyzed for PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PAHs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and emerging flame retardants, including organophosphate flame retardants (OPEs).
Perfluorobutane Sulfonamide is a bioaccumulative contaminant in fish in Canada and possibly in the Netherlands.
This review summarizes all available data generated by Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency for chemicals measured in Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and Walleye (Sander vitreus) for the time period spanning 2008 to 2012 from each of the five Great Lakes.
The subject of the current report was based on a third National Workshop entitled "Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Canadian Environment: Research and Policy Directions" which took place March 5th to 7th, 2007 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
This publication describes the occurrence and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments across the Great Lakes basin.
Perfluoroalkyl Compounds in Sediments of Tributaries and Open-Water Areas of the Great Lakes (2009)
This report describes the occurrence and distribution of perfluoroalkyl compound concentrations in sediments across the Great Lakes basin.
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