A Summary Report on the Findings I of 's National Dioxin Sampling Program from 1989 to 1994

Ramona K. Duncan

Fisheries and Oceans P~ches et Oceans .+. Canada Canada Canada Cover photo: Denise Helm, Victoria, The cover photo captures the interlace between the aquatic marine environment, with its habitat and fisheries resources, the harvesters that fish for those resources and the coastal land area. The photo was taken looking towards the east coast of , British Columbia, near Kuper Island.

The Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), a key species used in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program, is illustrated on the cover.

Cover and Layout Design: Multimedia Design Group Inc.

Published by: Communications Directorate Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa, Ontario KIAOE6

©Minister of Public Works and Governn'ient Services Canada 1998 .

Cat. No. Fs 23-343/1998E ISBN 0-662-26750-8

Duncan, R. K. 1998. Clear Progress: A Summary Report on the Findings of Canada's N!,tional Dioxin Sampling Programfrom 1989 to 1994. Environmental Science Branch, Habitat Management and Environmental Science Directorate, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, ON. 64pp.

o Printed on Recycled Paper Clear Progress

A Summary Report on the Findings of Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program from 1989 to 1994

Ramona K. Duncan This document summarises, in non-technical terms, the fmdings of Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program in its first five years of operation: 1989-1994.

The sampling and analytical data on which this report is based are available on request from:

Environmental Science Branch

Habitat Management & Environmental Science Directorate Fisheries and Oceans Canada 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, ON KIA OE6

Telephone: (613) 990-0304 Fax: (613) 998-3329 I am grateful to the following individuals for their contribution to the report.

For providing review comments, information and advice - RichardAddison,]oe Banoub,Wayne Fairchild,Wayne Knapp, Michel Lebeuf, Camille Mageau,]im Morrison,]erry Payne, Ron Pierce,]ean Piuze and Mike Whittle (Fisheries and Oceans Canada); AI Colodey, Mike Hagen and Derek Muir (Environment Canada); Claudette Dalpe and]ayVanOostdam (Health Canada); and Peter Hodson (Queen's University).

For preparation of maps and related information for the Pacific Region - Wayne Knapp and Steve Samis (Fisheries and Oceans Canada).

From the planning stages of the report, through to preparation of the database, maps and figures - Denis Nadon (Environment Canada).

From the planning stages of the report, through to final draft, for his contribution to the database compilation as well as ongoing reviews and assistance in the preparation of the report - Mike Whittle (Fisheries and Oceans Canada).

For technical information and assistance with the actual sampling initiatives - the pulp and paper industry as well as regional federal and provincial personnel.

For drafting the initiatory scientific conclusions upon which this highlight progress report is based - Hal Rogers, Sidney, Be. For the preliminary formation of the progress report - Ron Baynes (Baynes Communications Inc.).

Acknowledgement ...... i Table of Contents ...... iii List of Tables ...... v List of Figures ...... vi Program Overview ...... 1

Dioxins and Furans ...... 5 Properties ...... 5 Sources ...... 6 Presence in the Environment ...... 7 Health Effects ...... 7

Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 11 Preliminary Phase ...... 12 Expanding the Program ...... 12 Sampling Methodology ...... 13 Field Operations ...... 13 Logistics ...... 14 Human Health Risk Assessment ...... 14

Pacific Region ...... 17 British Columbia Interior Mills ...... 18 ...... 18 - ...... 19 ...... 20 Fraser Estuary ...... 21 ...... 21 ...... 21 Kitimat River ...... 21 British Columbia Coastal Mills ...... 21 ...... 21 North Coast ...... 24 Prince Rupert ...... 24 Kitimat Arm ...... 26 " ...... 27 Powell River ...... 27 Vancouver Island, East Coast ...... 30 Crofton ...... 30 Nanaimo ...... 31 Campbell River ...... 31 Vancouver Island, West Coast ...... 34 Port Alice, ...... 34 Gold River, ...... 35 PortAlberni, Alberni Inlet ...... 37 Other Coastal Sampling ...... 37 Ocean Falls, Central Coast ...... 38 British Columbia Harbours ...... 38

Prairie Region ...... 39 ...... 40 Wapiti River ...... 40 ...... 40 Saskatchewan ...... 40 Manitoba ...... 40

Ontario Region ...... 41 Wabigoon River ...... 41 Rainy River ...... 41 Lake Superior - North Shore ...... 42 Mattagami River ...... 43 Spanish River ...... 43 Upper St. Lawrence River ...... 43

Laurentian (Quebec) Region ...... 45 Quevillon River ...... 45 Ottawa River ...... 45 St. Maurice River ...... 46 St. Francois River ...... 47 Mistassini River ...... 47 Saguenay River ...... 47 Gulf of St. Lawrence ...... 47

Atlantic Region ...... 49 New Brunswick ...... 49 Madawaska River ...... 49 St. John River ...... 49 St.John Harbour ...... 49 Restigouche River ...... 50 Miramichi River ...... 50 Nova Scotia ...... 50 Prince Edward Island ...... 51 Newfoundland ...... 51

Conclusion ...... 52 For Further Reading ...... 54

~ iv Table 1. A list of the interior pulp and paper mills of British Columbia included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 19

Table 2. A list of the coastal pulp and paper mills of British Columbia included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 22

Table 3. A list of the pulp and paper mills in the Prairie Region included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 39

Table 4. A list of the pulp and paper mills in the Ontario Region included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 41

Table 5. A list of the pulp and paper mills in Quebec included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 45

Table 6. A list of the pulp and paper mills in the Atlantic Region included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 49 - , 1~{Q~:~·. ,

Figure 1. A map of Canada indicating the location of the 46 bleached kraft pulp and paper mills and 2 control sites studied in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program ...... 2

Figure 2. Structural formulae of polychlorinated dibenzop-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) ...... 5

Figure 3. Structural formula for 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro­ dibenzodioxin showing chlorine atoms attached to the 2,3,7 and 8 positions of the molecule ...... 6

Figure 4. A map of the Pacific Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study ...... 18

Figure 5. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in Howe Sound, as of August 1995 ...... 23

Figure 6. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in Howe Sound, from 1989 to 1994 ...... 24

Figure 7. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in Prince Rupert as of August 1995 ...... 25

Figure 8. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the vicinity of Prince Rupert, from 1989 to 1994 ...... 26

Figure 9. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in Kitimat Arm, as of February 1995 ...... 27

Figure 10. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in Kitimat Arm, from 1990 to 1994 ...... 28

Figure 11. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in the vicinity of Powell River, as of August 1995 ...... , ...... 29

~ vi Figure 12. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the Powell River area, from 1990 to 1994 ...... 30

Figure 13. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in the Crofton area and part of the Harmac area near Nanaimo as of August 1995 ...... 32

Figure 14. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the vicinity of Crofton, from 1990 to 1994 ...... 33

Figure 15. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in the Campbell River area as of August 1995 ...... 34

Figure 16. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the vicinity of Campbell River, from 1990 to 1994 ...... 35

Figure 17. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in the Gold River area as of August 1995 ...... 36

Figure 18. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the vicinity of Gold River, from 1988 to 1994 ...... 37

Figure 19. A map of the Prairie Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study ...... 39

Figure 20. A map of the Ontario Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study ...... 42

Figure 21. A map of the Laurentian Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study ...... 46

Figure 22. A map of the Atlantic Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study ...... 50

vii ~ Overview

Chlorinated dioxins and furans of paper by the pulp and paper public concern mounted. In a are the by-products of several mills. Until the use of treated 1991 federal government industrial and combustion woodchips in the making of report, polychlorinated processes, and are considered pulp ceased, the use of dibenzodioxins and among the most toxic and chlorophenols became strictly polychorinated dibenzofurans persistent chemical substances controlled, and technological were classified as toxic to the in the world. As very small changes were employed by the environment under the quantities of these chemical mills to reduce dioxin and Canadian Environmental contaminants come into furan formation, dioxins and Protection Act. contact with freshwater and furans were found in the marine sediments, they can wastewaters emanating from In 1992, federal government accumulate in various marine pulp and paper mills as well as regulations came into effect and freshwater animals, and from operations involving that reqUired pulp and paper humans can be exposed to chlorophenol-treated lumber. mills to eliminate dioxins and them from the foods they eat. Typically these facilities are furans from their effluents. Indeed, when dioxins and located adjacent to rivers or Aware that these regulations furans enter the aquatic coastal waters, into which they were coming, some companies environment, they accumulate used to directly release their had begun to modify their up the food chain from wastewaters. The chemical bleached pulp and paper mills organisms that feed on bottom contaminants in these as early as the late 1980s. The sediments to other fish and wastewaters were found to purpose of this document is to shellfish and eventually to affect the fish and shellfish summarise the scope, humans. caught in commercial, methodology and results of a recreational and aboriginal major Canadian environmental Chlorinated dioxins and furans fisheries. study, Canada's National Dioxin are complex chemical Sampling Program, in the first substances that contain Improvements in analytical five years of its operation: 1989 chlorine, carbon and oxygen instrumentation in the 1980's to 1994. Although sampling has elements. In Canada, the main have made it possible to continued after 1994, primarily sources of dioxins and furans measure dioxins and furans at on the west coast, the majority have been: pulp and paper concentrations that, while of data collection occurred mills that used chlorine to potentially hazardous to human during the first five years of the bleach their products; sawmills health, were previously program. During the course of and shipping terminals that undetectable. As this new the first five years, dramatic used chlorophenols to preserve technology produced evidence reductions of dioxin and furan cut wood; and the wood itself of dioxin and furan concentrations in the aquatic as chlorophenol treated concentrations in Canadian biota have occurred. Although woodchips used in the making ecosystems in the late 1980's, the subject report does not

1 ~ contain detailed information on (HC) collaborated with collected and analysed for the the fmdings in later sampling provincial governments as well program in the vicinity of other initiatives, some qualitative as the pulp and paper industry mills that had never used observations based on more in the collection and analysis of chlorine and from areas recent analytical results and biota and sediments across without pulp and paper mills. human health assessments, have Canada. The Program focused A map of Canada indicating the been included in some on watersheds and coastal areas location of the 46 bleached instances. likely to be influenced by the kraft pulp and paper mills 46 pulp and paper mills that studied in Canada's National Federal government scientists were using chlorine to bleach Dioxin Sampling Program is from Fisheries and Oceans their products. To establish shown in Figure 1. Canada (DFO), Environment points of reference, samples of Canada (EC) and Health Canada fish and shellfish were

f:ihti .... ' fI .•~.II.-'lJ",)(~(-,'Jl'.i}~lrlctlb .l'''F·;\.n~· P',,! .f.t-)" ,t,d·Jr. t',IIJ'__ ~tl1>. dl'(,Jt.'J} . .!.tf! :'H~.iJlf.(~~.r,,_,.n· DX'jl ~Co(l)'\l.,,-,il 1\'.:-. 11,Iill.t~.D)tnll·)!I..r.i~·~1 J.'l iOrOJl).I'.JDj'."~II) '_'I'l!1h'.I.'· l:'.'~ · ~,·,,".

Campbell River GoIdAlver Port Hawkesbury Nanalmo Port Albern! New Glasgow

Westminster Howe Sound

Edmunston

~ 2 The initial primary goals of the In Canada, the highest dioxin and in some cases dramatic, Program were: (1) to deflne and furan concentrations in declines in dioxin and furan the extent of dioxin and furan biota were measured near pulp concentrations. Some areas are concentrations in flsh, shellfish and paper mill sites in British characterised by a slower rate and sediments in watersheds Columbia. In Ontario, Quebec of recovery, and therefore, are and coastal areas likely to be and the prairie provinces, there still under study. influenced by the 46 pulp and was evidence of intermediate paper mills that were using dioxin and furan concen­ In areas characterised by a chlorine to bleach their trations. In the Atlantic Region, dramatic decline in dioxin and products; (2) to determine primarily low dioxin and furan furan concentrations, the whether the concentrations concentrations were identilled. sampling and monitoring of dioxins and furans found in objectives were expanded to the biota posed a threat to In view of the information include species-specillc and human health; and (3) to track collected in support of the area-specillc data collection to the effectiveness of the initial goals, the Program meet criteria established for industry'S cleanup measures in emphasis shifted to the areas reopening closed flsheries and reducing dioxin and furan that exhibited the highest lifting consumption advisories. concentrations in the concentrations of dioxins and environment. furans in biota, and where Additional mOnitoring is flsheries closures and ongoing by the pulp and paper As the Program progressed, consumption advisories were industry in accordance with sampling and analysis of flsh required. government requirements. and sediments quickly revealed higher concentrations of Following the discovery of dioxins and furans close to elevated dioxin and furan some mills. However, the concentrations in the biota, the situation was not uniform later years of sampling and across the country. analysis began to show steady,

Properties

Dioxins and furans are two dioxins and furans are those in are the main topicS of this large groups of 210 chemically­ which four chlorine atoms are study and in the interests of related chlorinated organic attached to specific carbon Simplicity they will be referred chemicals whose structural atom positions, designated as 2, to hereafter as 2,3,7,8-TCDD formulae are shown in Figure 2. 3,7 and 8 as shown in Figure 2. and 2,3,7,8-TCDF. The Of these 210 related structural formula for 2,3,7,8- substances, 75 are dioxins and The chemical names of two of TCDD is shown in Figure 3. 135 are furans. These these congeners are 2,3,7,8- compounds have several tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin These compounds have been characteristics in common. All (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8- the topiC of substantial concern are made up of chlorine and tetrachlorodibenzofuran because they have been shown carbon atoms attached to the (TCDF). These two substances to be acutely toxic, to be same basic skeleton of carbon and oxygen molecules. Varying Figure 2. numbers of chlorine atoms, Structural formulae of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxms from one to eight, are (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). positioned on this framework to yield the different dioxin and 9 1 furan combinations. 8 0 2 Understanding the importance of dioxin and furan 3 contamination starts with a 0 recognition that within these 6 0-4 chemical families, some chlorine-atom combinations are polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin more toxic than others based (PCDD) on available information when studying their effects in animal 9 1 models. What determines the 8 2 toxicity of a given chlorinated dioxin or furan is not only the number of chlorine atoms but their pOSitions on either molecular skeleton as well. Scientific studies have shown polychlorinated dibenzofuran that the most toxic chlorinated (pCDF) 100[ ~ ~.rri·· .... that can accumulate in the f.'U..iD~1~:D LW"iDillfhJ n.iX? l11 ,~ 7In t.:~7.i:fl.t,m environment. They were (Iil'Zt.1:i:f.l ~1}11IJ1J-,!i Clli[i1'P r1frJ...~'il ill) ~ & ~ 7J ilitfl GJ ' formerly used in electrical )j~-:.fllt.lliJ('i}tfh? (lli~ . ,,; equipment such as transformers. While the use and storage of PCBs is now CI~ O ~CI strictly controlled, the potential for releases through accidental spills, or fires in equipment CI~O~CI containing PCBs, remains. 2,3,7,8 - tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin 2. Dioxins and furans are (2,3,7,8 - TeDD) produced by the incomplete combustion of chlorinated extremely persistent and Sources industrial chemicals and resistant to chemical and emitted during the incineration microbial degradation, as well Chlorinated dioxins and furans of municipal and hazardous as to be accumulated in are not used in commercial wastes. biological tissues. When applications, but are formed as 3. Natural sources of dioxins discharged into bodies of water, unintentional by-products of a and furans are forest fires and they may constitute a hazard (a) number of processes. They volcanoes. There are no data to human health through have entered the Canadian specific to these sources. consumption of contaminated environment from four main However sediments that are fish, (b) to fish which may be sources: 300 to 1000 years old have affected by exposure to very I. Commercial chemicals that been found to have low low concentrations of dioxins, contain traces of these concentrations of the less toxic and (c) to the ecosystem in substances, particularly dioxins and furans. general where they may chlorophenols, which in the accumulate and magnify up the 4. Dioxins and furans are past, the forest industry used as food chain. In aquatic generated as by-products of wood preservatives, and other ecosystems, they become industrial manufacturing agriCUltural industries used as attached to sediment particles processes and are released with herbicides. Use of these where they may persist for their effluent into the chemicals is now strictly several years before they are environment. In Canada, the controlled and new techniques eliminated or buried by most significant source of to produce chlorophenols have uncontaminated sediments. chlorinated dioxins and furans resulted in considerably lower They tend to accumulate in the has been the 46 pulp and paper concentrations of dioxins and organic portions of soil, mills that previously used furans in these chemicals. sediments or in the fatty chlorine in their bleaching Other significant sources, in segments of biological tissues. process. Typically, they are fact the most significant They can enter the food chain located on the banks of rivers, potential sources of furans, are when sediments are ingested next to lakes or near coastal the polychlorinated biphenyls by bottom feeding organisms. waters into which they release (pCBs). PCBs are part of In animals, they accumulate in their effluents. another family of persistent some tissues, particularly in the chlorinated organic chemicals fat and fat-rich organs. Until the early 1990s, pulp and far from known sources of defects, liver damage and paper mills used defoamers that pollution; for instance in the suppressed the immune system. contained dioxin and furan eggs of herring gulls from the Exposure to elevated doses of precursors and chlorine to industrialised Great Lakes 2,3,7,8-TCDD was shown to bleach the pulp. Both practices region, and in polar bears, seals cause cancer in rodents. In generated chlorinated dioxin and whales in the Canadian addition, scientists have and furan by-products at parts­ Arctic. discovered that some ftsh and per-trillion concentrations in bird species are more sensitive effluents discharged by these Also, dioxins and furans have to short-term exposure of mills and in paper products. A been detected in food 2,3,7,8-TCDD than most part per trillion is comparable consumed by humans. In mammals that were tested. to one cent in 10 billion dollars Canada, although these or 10-12 gram per gram of chemicals have been identifted Because dioxins and furans effluent or paper. in ftsh, beef, pork, poultry, eggs enter the environment as and milk, the concentrations ingredients of a wider mix of Another source of dioxin and are very low. Thus, the industrial by-products, it is furan contamination originates consumption of these foods is difftcult to isolate and measure from forest industry operations, not considered to pose a hazard their effect on humans. particularly in British Columbia to human health when they are Scientists do know that when where it is important industry. part of a well balanced diet. In dioxins or furans are absorbed The use of commercial fruits, vegetables and wheat­ by humans, they accumulate in chemicals such as based products, the all parts of the body, but chlorophenols by sawmill concentrations of dioxins and particularly in fatty tissues, operations to protect cut furans found are very low or blood and the liver. Short-term lumber from fungal attack ftnd are below analytical detection but intense exposures resulting their way into the environment limits. from industrial accidents have and can leach into watersheds produced skin lesions, sight in proximity of these mills. impairment and a range of Health Effects neurological and psychological effects. In a poisoning episode Research has shown the Presence in the in Taiwan, exposure to furans in compound 2,3,7,8-TCDD, and Environment rice oil over a three- to nine­ to a lesser extent, the other month period was associated As in other industrialised 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins and with higher post-natal deaths, countries, all animals, humans furans as well to be highly toxic reduced birth size and other and other parts of the to mammals, although there is a effects. On the basis of ecosystems in Canada are wide variation in sensitivity research, Canadian scientists exposed to dioxins and furans. among species. In test animals have concluded that human This is conftrmed by studies they have caused death in intakes of these substances showing that dioxins and amounts ranging from less than should be below 10 picograms furans are present in every part one microgram to a few 00.12 of a gram) in toxic of the environment including milligrams per kilogram of body equivalents (TEQs) per air, water, soil, sediments, ftsh, weight. Longer-term exposure kilogram of body weight per birds, other animals and foods. of test mammals to lesser day averaged over a lifetime of They have been found in the amounts has affected 70 years. tissues of animals both near and reproduction, caused birth On average, exposure of Canadians to dioxins and furans from the foods they Measuring Toxicity consume is well below this concentration. However, Dioxins and furans do not enter the environment as within these limits there are separate elements but rather as ingredients of a exceptions including people chemical mixture. To separate and study each type of whose regular diet includes fish dioxin and furan in a given mixture would be a time­ or shellfish from waters consuming and unmanageably expensive task. containing dioxins and furans. Fortunately, there is another way. Research has defined, in precise and measured terms, the toxic effects of the Tests have shown relatively dioxin and furan compounds. On the basis of these high concentrations of dioxins findings, toxicologists have developed a method for and furans in the blood of assessing the toxicity of a given mixture of dioxins and people exposed routinely to furans in relative terms, using an internationally these contaminants in their accepted system of comparison know n as "toxicity work or through accidents equivalent factors" (TEFs). TEFs (in effect, toxicity (involving PCB filled values) are assigned to each dioxin and furan compound transformers, chemical spills in the mixture on the basis of comparison with the and fires etc.). In some most toxic dioxin of all, 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The most potent instances, new-borns may be at congener 2,3,7,8-TCDD was assigned the TEF value of higher risk if dioxins and 1.0. Comparison of relative potency data showed that furans are transferred through 2,3,7,8-TCDF is about one-tenth as toxic as 2,3,7,8,­ breast milk, a storage area for TCDD and hence its TEF value is 0.1. The Program these contaminants due to its monitored for the 17 toxic forms of 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins and furans. The concentrations of these 17 high fat content. compounds are multiplied by the equivalency factors to convert them into a number which represents the The Ministers of the overall toxicity relative to the most toxic form of dioxin, Environment and of Health 2,3,7,8-TCDD. This is done by multiplying the TEF of have concluded that PCDDs each component by its concentration to arrive at the and PCDFs may enter the Toxic Equivalent (TEQ). The sum of the TEQs describes environment in quantities that the total dioxin and furan toxic potential. The number have both immediate and long­ is expressed in parts per trillion toxic equivalents (TEQ) term harmful effects on the of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The analytical results for each sample environment and which are submitted to Health Canada for assessment of the constitute a danger in Canada human health significance of the findings. to human health. Hence, these substances are considered Health Canada uses theTEQ method accepted by the North "toxic" as defined in Sections Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) civilian-eo-operation 11 (a) and 11 (c) of the ann, the Committee on the Challenges of Modem Society Canadian Environmental (CCMS). The method is described in the NATO/CCMS Report Protection Act (CEPA). No. 176, August 1988 (see Further Reading Section).

~ 8 Jurisdictional Responsabilities: A Co-operative Approach

To simplify this description of Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program, this report will usually describe the executing agency as "The Government."

Three federal government departments, Fisheries and Oceans Canada CDFO), Health Canada (HC) and Environment Canada CEC), as well as the provincial governments and the pulp and paper industry, fostered a co-operative arrangement in the Program. Government of Ontario agencies, the Ministry of Natural Resources with assistance from the Ministry of the Environment, conducted 90 per cent of the sampling of mills in that province. The Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba provincial fisheries agencies collected all the samples within their respective jurisdictions for the Program. The British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks conducted much of the province's freshwater sampling, for the Program.

At the outset of the program DFO and other government agencies conducted most of the fish sampling. Since 1990, most of the sampling and analysis has been conducted by individual pulp and paper mills and their consultants.

In the case of federally managed fisheries, DFO is responsible for fisheries management measures such as fishery closures and reopenings and the issuing of fish consumption advisories.

Health Canada provides advice on the human health significance of the concentrations of dioxins and furans measured in the samples collected under the Program to the federal or provincial agency responsible for taking these fisheries management measures.

The announcement of the fisheries management measures is co-ordinated by all departments involved in order to provide the public with convenient access to information. The Government announced fisheries closures and/or consumption advisories in joint news releases by DFO, Health Canada and Environment Canada. Accompanying these are information backgrounders on dioxins and furans, on closure and reopening criteria and as well as on related matters.

Canada's National Dioxin Sam

Public concern about the and furans could be entering measurable concentrations of health effects of dioxins and the environment in quantities chlorinated dioxins or furans as furans generated by pulp and that could cause immediate and of January 1, 1994. Mills paper mills dates back to a long-term harm to the Canadian starting operation after June 1, 1986 study by the u.s. environment and endanger 1990, have to meet the Environmental Protection human health. In 1991, the regulations upon promulgation Agency (EPA), which detected Government placed them on of the regulations, or at the these substances in the the List of Toxic Substances as time of start up. In general, the effluents, sludges and pulps of defmed in the Canadian pulp and paper industry five bleached kraft pulp and Environmental Protection Act recognised the urgency of the paper mills in the United States (CEPA) and recommended that situation and began to take (see Further Reading Section, regulations be made to control necessary action to eliminate Amendola et al. 1989). In the the release of these substances and prevent the release of early 1980s, Health Canada by pulp and paper mills, dioxins and furans, prior to the concluded that dioxins and thereby reducing their regulations coming into force. furans were a potential danger discharge into the ecosystem. Some of these measures to human health and included reducing the amount established regulations to In 1992, new federal regulations of chlorine used in the reduce exposure of Canadians under CEPA required all pulp chlorination bleaching stage, to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. and paper mills using chlorine making changes in the pulping bleaching to implement process process, as well as substituting In 1988, based on the analytical changes to prevent the chlorine dioxide for chlorine. results from a sediment sample formation of dioxins and taken near a Vancouver Island furans. A further CEPA regulation, the pulp mill, Greenpeace issued a Pulp and Paper Mill De/oamer public warning urging The CEPA Pulp and Paper Mill and Wood Chips Regulations Canadians not to eat fish caught Effluent Chlorinated Dioxins required mills to immediately near pulp and paper mills. and Furans Regulations cease using contaminated Canada's National Dioxin prohibited the discharge of defoamers and wood chips that Sampling Program for fish and effluent with measurable may generate dioxins and shellfish near pulp and paper concentrations of chlorinated furans. The pulp and paper mills started in May 1988, with dioxins or furans. These industry, particularly on the the first closure enacted in regulations specify that pulp west coast, took action in 1989. and paper mills using chlorine advance of these regulations by bleaching, in operation prior eliminating the use of wood In 1990, the Government of June 1, 1990, must not chips contaminated with Canada concluded that dioxins discharge effluent with pentachlorophenol and by

11 ~ using reformulated defoamers After sampling and analysing in terms of organisation and free of dioxin and furan ftsh and sediment at these technical implementation. precursors. In addition, the locations, the survey found no regulations require mill evidence of a health hazard in In the sampling phase, for operators to monitor the ftsh fillets consumed by example, ftsh and shellftsh concentrations of dioxins and Canadians. However samples would need to be as furans in their ftnal effluents. concentrations were well above representative of the resources Health Canada's defmed at risk in the area of all 46 sites. tolerance concentrations in the To assess potential effects on Preliminary Phase hepatopancreas (digestive human health, the study would gland) of Dungeness crabs have to focus on species and In 1988, the federal government (Cancer magister) on the portions that people actually launched Canada's National Paciftc coast which are a food eat. And, to ensure consistency, Dioxin Sampling Program. One item for some Canadian ethnic scientists would need a goal was to build a data base on communities and aboriginal standardised Canada-wide dioxin and furan concentrations peoples. Dioxin and furan procedure for collecting, in biota for the planning of concentrations were also above handling, processing and health and ftsheries protection tolerance concentrations in storing ftsh and shellftsh measures, including assisting oysters, invertebrates and samples. with the development of CEPA shellftsh such as shrimps and regulations. The other objective prawns collected in speciftc On the administrative side, the of the program was to check locations on the British Program was also breaking new progress in the cleanup of Columbia coast. ground. No sampling study of contamination. Sampling and this scale and cost, concerned analysis of ftsh and sediments In mid-1988, on the basis of with attempting to assess the under the Program, combined these fmdings, the Ministers of presence and implications of with similar work by provincial Fisheries and Oceans, of contamination at the ultra-low authorities, as well as Environment and of Health concentrations associated with mandatory monitoring by the jointly announced that their dioxins and furans, had ever pulp and paper industry, would departments would extend the taken place in Canada. show how well the cleanup ftsh and sediment sampling measures were working. program to include all 46 mills To tackle these issues, scientists in Canada that were using, or from DFO, EC and HC joined The Program began with a four­ had used, chlorine to bleach forces to produce standardised month preliminary survey of their pulp. protocols and methods. With dioxin and furan concentrations adjustments based on in ftsh at 14 of the 46 Canadian experience as the work pulp and paper mills in the Expanding the progressed, scientists and chlorine-using category; eight in Program technologists, in the British Columbia, three in New Government and in contracted BrunSWick, two in Alberta, one The expansion of a small private laboratories, used this in Saskatchewan plus one sampling program to one of common approach. The pulp control site in Manitoba (a pulp national scope confronted and paper industry employed mill not using chlorine in their scientists in the three the same approach in its own bleaching sequence). departments with a sampling and analysis as well. proportionately larger challenge

~ 12 In the course of the Program, freshwater bodies, the priority were collected in the late federal government agencies list included fish such as carp winter. collaborated closely with and suckers that feed on provincial governments. potentially contaminated In order to relate the sampling bottom sediments and are to the forms in which people susceptible to accumulating eat fish, samples were analysed Sampling dioxins and furans. Where either as fillets or as whole Methodology possible, DFO scientists organ tissues. In fish that collected these fish close to the contain fatty livers, the livers The fish sampling plan called points where the sediment were removed and analysed for collection of a minimum of samples were collected. The separately. This was done four fish or shellfish samples sediment samples were because in the case of some (each sample comprising collected and analysed by species, these organs are several individual animals) for Environment Canada at its own consumed by humans and also each pulp and paper mill. laboratories, the results are because these contaminants reported elsewhere (see tend to concentrate in the liver. Three samples were collected L. Trudel, Further Reading In the case of crabs and in waters close to the point at Section). lobsters, technicians prepared which the mills discharged samples from both the digestive effluents into rivers, estuaries Biota composite samples were gland (hepatopancreas) and the or other receiving waters. The prepared, each comprising from muscle tissue. fourth sample collected was the 4 to 10 fish or shellfish of control or reference sample. It similar size. This allowed was collected upstream from scientists to compensate for Field Operations the mill in a section of the natural variations in the dioxin Regional personnel planned water body isolated from the and furan concentrations from and organised the field contaminant source by distance one animal to the other. It also operations. This use of people or by physical barriers. When provided a more complete familiar with sampling sites, such a site could not be found, snapshot of contamination at species, fisheries, mills and the reference sample was the limited number of sites that other characteristics of the collected from a nearby, could be sampled within the target area, ensured precise uncontaminated, water body Program budget. supporting the same species of focusing of the Program in every region. fish or shellfish. In the case of freshwater species, the plan called for At each Site, the sampling team The Program focus of attention collection of most samples in collected information on the was on species of importance the late fall, when fish are at following aspects: (1) the to commerCial, recreational and their peak in terms of lipid or nature of the fisheries resource aboriginal fisheries. Within fat content and their sampled and the importance of these categories, highest bioaccumulation of the site as a habitat for these priority was assigned to long­ contaminants. In selected species; (2) the importance of lived predator species at the cases, samples were taken these resources to commercial, top of the food chain; these fish during the spring thaw to recreational or aboriginal normally accumulate the assess the effects of dioxin and fisheries in the area; and (3) the highest concentrations of furan concentration build-up type, size, history and product dioxins and furans. In during winter. Marine species

13 ~ lines of each mill. Maps Analytical methods changed as crabs. Sampling and analysis in indicating the geographical the work progressed and the the Program showed that in the location of each pulp and paper analytical instrumentation Dungeness crab, dioxins and mill, as well as the locations of improved. As a result, the furans can build up to effluent discharges and Program evolved over the particularly high concentrations sampling sites were prepared. period covered in this report. in its hepatopancreas (digestive At the outset, all samples were gland). As a result, where analysed using low-resolution dioxin and furan concentrations Logistics mass spectrometry (LRMS). In in the hepatopancreas were 1990, two years into the deemed by Health Canada to Analysis of samples was done in Program, laboratories involved pose a human health hazard, both government and selected in the analytical work, including the Government issued private laboratories. The the two DFO institutions, consumption advisories to government institutions were acquired high-resolution mass recreational and aboriginal the DFO Great Lakes spectrometry (HRMS) fishers and in some cases Laboratory for Fisheries and instruments. This made it closed commercial fisheries. In Aquatic Sciences (GLLFAS) in possible to detect dioxins and the Pacific Region, wherever Burlington, Ontario, and, in the furans at lower concentrations non-commercial consumption latter part of the program, the than before and also provided advisories on crab hepato­ DFO Institute of Ocean more reliable results. There was pancreas were necessary, the Sciences (lOS) in Sidney, B.c. also a positive trend in the commercial crab fisheries were GLLFAS in Burlington received economics of the Program with always closed as well. and processed all samples and the cost-per-sample declining retained five private consultants from $1,300-$1,500 at the start to assist in the analytical work. to $850 in 1994. This was Human Health Risk All samples from Ontario were largely the result of the increase Assessment analysed by Health Canada. In in competitive bidding that addition, Burlington was the Health Canada (HC) provided occurred as more commercial base for planning and co­ the expert advice needed to laboratories acquired the ordinating the Program and for determine the human health instrumentation and expertise selection and quality control implications of data generated to conduct HRMS analysis. monitoring of all participating by Canada's National Dioxin laboratories. Sampling Program. Another evolution was in the targeting of species and To ensure the integrity of the Health Canada's advice was specimen types for analysis. samples, they were shipped by air based on concentrations of The most significant example in frozen form to the central DFO dioxins and furans found in fish related to a highly popular and laboratory at Burlington. At the and shellfish samples forwarded commercially important Pacific Burlington laboratory, technicians from government agencies or Coast crustacean, the took special measures to protect government-approved labo­ Dungeness Crab. Other samples from cross-contamination ratories. The HC assessments species, such as prawns and and deterioration, and for storing were based on several factors, oysters were also targeted, but processed samples in specially one being the concentrations of in these species, dioxin and cleaned glass containers at -20 °C the different dioxin and furan furan concentrations tended to before analysis. congeners and others relating decline more quickly than in

~ 14 to the tolerable daily intake that this value to compensate for The third step is comparison of should not be exceeded by variations in tolerance between the TDI and the PDI. If the PDI consumers. individuals and between exceeds the TDI, the species. Government must consider The method HC uses to assess measures to reduce the risk. human health risks associated The second step in the process The various risk management with dioxins and furans in fish, is to estimate Probable Daily options include recommending involves three main steps: Intake cPDI) of dioxins and limits for the consumption of furans by consumers potentially fish and shellfish harvested at The first is to determine the exposed. Evaluators calculate specific sites; restricting the Tolerable Daily Intake (fDI) of this exposure on the basis of sale or distribution of food dioxins and furans. The TDI is concentrations of dioxin and from a contaminated area; and the quantity of these chemicals furan congeners found in fish the closure of commercial and that the average person could and shellfish samples, expressed non-commercial fisheries until consume each day over a in TEQs. They then multiply the contamination in fish and lifetime of 70 years without total TEQs by the amount of shellfish has declined to danger to health. As noted fish consumed per day. This concentrations that would no earlier, Health Canada, requires information on food longer pose a threat to human consistent with the fmdings of consumption patterns, as well health. the World Health Organisation as other factors such as (WHO), has estimated theTDI location, cultural background, Before taking any of these to be 10 picograms per socio-economic status, gender actions, the Government kilogram of body weight per and age of consumers. In weighs the potential advantages day. Toxicologists base these on determining PDIs, evaluators and disadvantages for the local studies of laboratory animals in allow for not just average but population and its sub-groups, which they determine the above-average consumption making each decision on a case­ threshold of contamination (Le. rates, and the special by-case basis. the concentration at which no vulnerability to contamination ill effects have been observed of certain sub-groups such as in the animals). A 100-fold elderly people and young safety factor is then added to children.

15 ~

During Canada's National discharge into marine or commercial fisheries and the Dioxin Sampling Program, fish estuarine waters, affecting issuing of consumption and shellfish samples were marine habitat and its sea­ advisories, recommending collected and analysed from the dwelling organisms. restricted portions of fish vicinity of 24 pulp and paper consumption. The fishery manufacturing mills in British In some cases, however, the closures involved crab, prawns, Columbia, which used the distinction between interior shrimps, clams and oysters chlorine bleaching process. A and coastal mills is not clearly harvested near coastal mills. map of the Pacific Region, defined. At NewWestminster, The Government also issued a indicating the location of the for example, the effluent from general advisory recommending pulp and paper mills included the Scott Paper and the against consumption of all liver in the study is shown in Figure Paperboard Industries mills tissues of bottom-feeding fish 4. From 1990 on, sampling and discharge into the Fraser River harvested in the vicinity of analysis under the program was estuary where incoming tides coastal mills. conducted and paid for by the from the Pacific push saltwater mills, under the direction of the wedges upstream past the area In the course of the Program, British Columbia Ministry of of the mill. The Scott mill is in analyses have shown declines Environment, Lands and Parks, the interior category because in dioxin and furan DFO and Environment Canada the main impact of the mill concentrations in most areas. CEC). In nearly all cases, these effluent is on freshwater fish in For example, based on an mills had already taken steps the estuary, including juvenile average of concentrations in towards compliance with Pacific salmon in their pre­ crab hepatopancreas collected federal regulations requiring ocean stage. By contrast, the at one outfall site at each pulp them to reduce concentrations Eurocan Pulp & Paper mill at mill, dioxin and furan TEQs fell of dioxins and furans in their Kitimat, about seven kilometres by an average of 85% at six out wastewaters. from the sea, qualifies as a of seven sites, measured by coastal mill because it is sampling in 1990 and 1993. For purposes of organisation known to have affected crabs These declines are the result of and focus, the pulp and paper living in the marine habitat. cleanup measures taken since mills were divided into 12 1991 by the pulp and paper interior and 12 coastal mills. In certain areas, studies under industry. Monitoring, most of it the Program revealed dioxin by the pulp and paper industry As the term is used in this and furan concentrations under direction from EC and document, an interior mill is sufficient to warrant DFO continues. On an annual one whose effluents or government measures to basis, the results of these wastewaters discharge into protect human health and the studies are forwarded to HC for freshwater habitat, impacting wholesomeness of Canadian assessment of their human primarily freshwater fish and fish products. These included health implications. other organisms. A coastal mill total closures of certain is one whose effluents commercial and non-

17 ~ interior mills also included Figure 4. A map of the Pacific Region, indicating the location of reference or control samples at the pulp and paper mills included in the study. sites upstream from the mills. The survey covered 22 species comprised of chinook, coho, sockeye and kokanee salmon, steelhead, Dolly Varden char, rainbow and cutthroat trout, burbot, walleye, longnose and largescale sucker, peamouth chub, mountain and lake whitefish, white sturgeon, BRITISH COLUMBIA northern squawfish, northern pike, eulachon, Coast Range and Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd. prickly sculpin as well as (Mackanzia Pulp Div.> crayfish. Additional sampling Skeena Cellulosalnc. / and analysis conducted by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks is reported elsewhere (see Western Pulp ,..>-\---f- Canfor Prince Georga Pulp & Paper Mill. Partnarship Ltd. (Prince George Pul p 121 Further Reading Section). Port Alice & Inter·Continental Pulp) Aetcher Challenge Ceneda Ltd. -----+-- Cariboo Pul p & Paper Co. (Elk Fall Pulp Div.> -_~ Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. C.P. Forest Products Ltd. (Gold River) Thompson River Kamloops

MacM illan Bloedel Ltd. The Thompson River supports (Nanaimo Div.l Crestbrook Forest Industrie. Ltd . four species of Pacific salmon. Aetcher Challenge Canada Ltd. Paperboard Industries These include the famed Adams

Western Pulp Partnership Ltd. S.oH Paper River sockeye salmon whose Woodfib.r Pulpmill (Fraser River Estuary) (Howl Sound) run peaks every four years.

The Program focused on the • No Chorine Bleaching influence of the Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. mill at Kamloops, one of the largest in British Columbia, and a producer of Columbia Interior Mills bleached and semi-bleached softwood and pulp. Like the The freshwater pulp and paper included in Canada's National other mills that historically used mills are located primarily in Dioxin Sampling Program is chlorine bleaching, this mill has the Fraser-Thompson, Columbia presented in Table 1. dramatically reduced dioxins and Peace watershed systems. and furans from its wastewater A list of the interior pulp and In this part of the Program, the discharge into the Thompson paper mills of British Columbia analyses conducted near River.

~ 18 During the Program, samples downstream from the outfall. 8 kilometres downstream of the were collected from the North Furthermore, the dioxin and Weyerhaeuser mill. and South Thompson Rivers furan concentrations were upstream from the mill, along below analytical detection April 1990: Health Canada with samples from Corbett limits in the reference samples issued further consumption Lake, a reference site, not from Corbett Lake. advisories on fish from two exposed to pulp mill effluent. locations. One applied to fillets The species mix included of Dolly Varden char caught at samples of rainbow trout, As a result of the dioxin and Tranquille, at the head of mountain whitefish, suckers furan concentrations in Kamloops Lake, about 6 and Dolly Varden. In most samples of the Thompson kilometres below the outfall. cases, the samples analysed River, the Government took The other covered fillets of included both whole fish and the following action: rainbow trout from the muscle (fillet). The analysis Deadman Creek area, about 36 indicated highest dioxin and May 1989: Health Canada kilometres downstream from furan concentrations at sites issued consumption advisories the mill. immediately downstream from on mountain whitefish, the outfall, with TEQ values northern squawfish and decreasing with distance peamouth chub caught within Williston Lake­ Peace River Table 1. During the Program, fish and A list of the interior pulp and paper miI1s of British Columbia included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program. sediments were sampled near two mills that could be SITE COMPANY RECEIVING WATERS expected to affect fish in the Peace River System. Kamloops Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. Thompson River

MacKenzie Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd. Williston Reservoir The first was Fletcher Challenge Canada's bleached MacKenzie Finlay Forest Industries Ltd. Peace River pulp mill at MacKenzie, near Taylor Fibreco Pulp Inc. Peace River the southern end of Williston

Prince George Northwood PuJp & Timber Ltd. Fraser River Lake. Analysis of samples of rainbow trout, burbot, longnose Prince George CANFOR Prince George sucker and lake whitefish taken PuJp & Paper Mills (2 mills, combined outfall) Fraser River upstream and downstream from Prince George Pulp the mill in 1988 showed dioxin Intercontinental Pulp concentrations to be below the

Quesnel Cariboo PuJp & Paper Ltd. Fraser River analytical detection limit. However, moderate Quesnel PuJp Company Fraser River concentrations of furans were Cranbrook Crest brook Forest Industries. Kootenay River detected.

Castlegar CeJgar PuJp Company Ltd. Columbia River DFO carried out no further New Westminster Scott Paper Ltd. Fraser River sampling and HC issued no consumption advisories. Burnaby Paperboard Industries Ltd. Fraser River

19 ~ The second mill in the system salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly concentrations in samples of was Fibreco Pulp Inc.'s Varden char and suckers. the same species taken just bleached pulp operation at In 1990, white sturgeon after the spring break-up in the Taylor. Samples from both samples were collected at following year. These high upstream and downstream sites Stuart Lake and Stoner, 20 km concentrations tended to occur on the Peace River showed downstream of Prince George. during the winter months when dioxin and furan concentrations Consumption restrictions were the flow of the Fraser River was to be below the analytical put into place based on at its lowest. detection limit. elevated dioxin and furan concentrations. In 1991, DFO Program sampling on the Fraser In 1989, DFO field personnel sampled fish at Stoner and River over a two-year period collected reference or control found high dioxin and furan indicated that dioxin and furan samples from the Pine and concentrations in mountain concentrations in the system Peace Rivers, upstream from whitefish liver. Further analysis were on the decline. For the mill. The species included: of samples at the Stoner site in example, scientists collected northern pike, mountain 1992, found that these samples in 1990 and 1992 at a whitefish, walleye, longnose concentrations had fallen site 20 km downstream of sucker and large scale sucker. dramatically. Quesnel, where the influence of Again, the dioxin and furan all four mills on the river could concentrations were below the About 100 km downstream be assessed. The 1990 testing analytical detection limit. from Prince George, the showed high concentrations of Program analysed fish samples dioxins and furans in mountain This was the only testing done taken in the vicinity of two whitefish. Sampling two years at these sites during the mills operated by Quesnel River later at the same site showed a Program. Pulp Company and the Cariboo dramatic fall in concentrations. Pulp and Paper Company. The first plant never used chlorine DFO also sampled large scale Fraser River and its effluent receives both sucker and mountain whitefish primary and secondary upstream from Quesnel in 1990 Fish were sampled on the treatment before discharge into and 1992, analysing both Upper Fraser River to gauge the the Fraser River. The other muscle and liver tissues. On the possible impact of three pulp plant at Quesnel is an older basis of very limited sampling, it and paper mills located on the bleached kraft pulp mill appeared that dioxin and furan Fraser River at Prince George: operated by Cariboo Pulp and concentrations in samples from Northwood Pulp and Paper's Paper Company. this site had also fallen mill, and two facilities operated Significantly. by Canadian Forest Products DFO sampling and analysis near (CANFOR). these sites in 1988 suggested a Additional sampling, not seasonal fluctuation in included in this report, In 1988 and 1990, analysis of concentrations. Samples of conducted under the direction fish samples taken close to the juvenile chinook, salmon, of British Columbia Ministry of mills revealed detectable burbot and longnose suckers Environment, Lands and Parks concentrations of 2,3,7,8- collected in September had low has since resulted in most of TCDDs and 2,3,7,8-TCDFs in dioxin and furan the consumption advisories the livers of a variety of fish concentrations. However, being lifted due to drastically including juvenile chinook analysis showed increased

~ 20 reduced dioxin and furan concentrations of furans. No Extensive sampling along the concentrations. advisories were issued. The Columbia River in 1994 yielded results of further sampling low dioxin and furan undertaken by the provincial concentrations in every case. Fraser Estuary government and the mill are Further sampling and analysis reported elsewhere. conducted by the provincial New Westminster government resulted in the Sampling in the estuary area lifting of the consumption focused on waters near the Columbia River advisory. Scott Paper Ltd. plant at New The Celgar Pulp Company Westminster, which operates a bleached kraft mill at Kitimat River manufactures paper products Casdegar and discharges its and groundwood, and which wastewaters into the Columbia The Program categorised the has never used chlorine. One River. Samples of walleye and Eurocan Pulp & Paper Co. plant purpose of sampling was to burbot collected by DFO, 200 as a coastal mill, and DFO determine the influence of the metres downstream from the concentrated its attention on scouring of sediments upstream plant in 1988 and 1989, showed marine species. However, field on the Fraser River during concentrations sufficient to personnel did some sampling spring runoff, and the resulting warrant the B.C. Ministry of and analysis of freshwater dislodgement of contaminated Health to issue an advisory, species upstream and materials from the riverbed. limiting the consumption of downstream of the mill. Only In 1988 and 1989, DFO mountain whitefish to one meal one sample, a Dolly Varden, collected samples of white per week. showed detectable dioxin and sturgeon and cutthroat trout furan concentrations. downstream of the plant. Dioxin and furan concentrations were low in both years. fZolumbia Coastal Mills Kootenay River There are 11 coastal pulp and Howe Sound In 1989, DFO collected and paper manufacturing sites in analysed fish from points British Columbia, including the Howe Sound supports upstream and downstream of mill at Kitimat which has never commercial fisheries for the Crestbook Forest Industries used chlorine. A list of the shrimp, prawn and Dungeness kraft mill at Skookumchuk. The coastal pulp and paper mills of crab as well as recreational and mill produces bleached kraft British Columbia included in aboriginal fisheries for a variety and subjects its wastewaters to Canada's National Dioxin of species. primary and secondary Sampling Program is presented treatment. The upstream in Table 2. The table, which Two of the oldest pulp and samples did not contain contains 12 sites, includes the paper mills in British Columbia measurable dioxin and furan abandoned mill site at Ocean are located on Howe Sound. concentrations. The Falls. One is at Port Mellon and the downstream samples had low other at Woodfibre, close to the mouth of the Squamish River. Table 2. Analysis of chum salmon A list of the coastal pulp and paper mills of British Columbia samples revealed that dioxin included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program. and furan concentrations were below analytical detection SITE COMPANY RECEIVING WATERS limits. Although the muscle

Port Mellon Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Ltd. Howe Sound tissue of rockfish and sole had dioxin and furan concentrations Woodfibre Western Pulp Ltd. Partnership Howe Sound below analytical detection limits, the liver samples from Prince Rupert Skeena Cellulose Inc. the same fish had high Kitimat Eurocan Pulp & Paper Ltd. Kitimat River concentrations. A general, coast-wide advisory was issued Powell River MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. in 1990, recommending against

Crofton Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd. the consumption of livers from bottom-feeding fish taken in the Nanaimo MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. Strait of Georgia vicinity of pulp and paper mills.

Campbell River Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd. Samples of softshell clams and Port Alice Western Pulp Ltd. Partnership Neroutsos Inlet mussels taken close to the mill, had concentrations that did not Gold River Canadian Pacific Forest Products Muchalat Inlet pose a threat to human health.

Port Alberni MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. A1berni Inlet On the basis of these Ocean Falls Abandoned site rmdings and advice from Health Canada, the Government took the following action in Howe This is the site of active further from the mill. As a Sound. recreational and aboriginal result, more samples were fisheries for salmon and analysed in the vicinity of this November 1988: The initial steelhead trout. mill, than for any other pulp closure pertained to all and paper manufacturing site in harvesting of crab, prawns and Although both plants used Canada. The Program focused shrimp in three areas of Howe chlorine in their bleaching mainly on Howe Sound's Sound. processes for most of their commercial fisheries for history, they have since reduced Dungeness crab partly because June 1989: The total harvest the concentrations of dioxins of its economic importance, closure on crab, combined with and furans in their wastewaters. and partly because of its use as closures on commercial shrimp As the Program progressed, an effective indicator species. and prawn fisheries, was researchers developed a special Analysis of these samples extended to some further areas interest in the mill near Port showed high dioxin and furan in Howe Sound. Other areas Mellon because of evidence concentrations in the muscle remained open to recreational that tides and currents were and hepato-pancreas of this and aboriginal fishing, however, transporting dioxins and furans species. Concentrations were in these cases, Health Canada from the mill site to points also high in shrimp and prawn. issued advisories to limit

~ 22 consumption of crab commercial fishers. When indicate the annual TEQ hepatopancreas. concentrations exceed 15 pg/g concentrations for specific in crab, oyster, prawn or shrimp sampling sites identified on the August 1993: After further muscle tissue, the fishery is maps. sampling and advice from closed to both commercial and Health Canada, DFO maintained non-commercial fishing. In this A map showing the location of the existing harvesting report, dioxin and furan fisheries closures and restrictions in Howe Sound. concentrations that exceed the consumption advisories in above concentrations and Howe Sound, as of August 1995 February 1995: Shrimp and warrant fishery closures and is shown in Figure 5. Dioxin prawn fisheries were reopened. consumption advisories are and furan TEQs in Dungeness The crab closure was extended considered to be high crab hepatopancreas samples to the Reception Point area. It concentrations. The TEQ collected in Howe Sound, from is important to note that the concentration of 15 pg/g is 1989 to 1994 are presented in northern areas of Howe Sound highlighted on the figures that Figure 6. were reopened to non­ commercial crab fishing, with Figure 5. an advisory on the A map showing the location of fisheries closures consumption of the crab and consumption advisories in Howe Sound, as of hepatopancreas. August 1995.

August 1995: The need for the consumption advisory for crab hepatopancreas was rescinded. However, the area remained o KIL OMETRE S 10 , - =- =- Non·commercial crab fishing continues to closed to commercial crab be open; crab hepatopancreas consumption advisory is lifted. harvesting pending management ~ Area remains closed to commercial crab 199 fishing pending amendments to existing consultation. These consultations I F,SHERY CLOSURES - AUG. crab management plans which will be 1 made in consultation with harvesters. were held and the area reopened m Closed to all crab fisheries to fishing in July 1996. ~ Closed to commercial crab fishery. . Consumption advisory for non-commercial crab fisheries.

April 1996: The western Crab hepatopancreas consumption limit portion of Howe Sound, in the (grams/week) area of the mill near Port Mellon, was reopened to non­ commercial fisheries and an advisory was issued.

In general, when dioxin and furan TEQ concentrations in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas exceed 30 pg/g the area is closed to commercial fisheries and an advisory is issued to non-

23 ~ Figure 6. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in Howe Sound, from 1989 to 1994.

1600- • Jan. 1989 • Sep.1990 D Mar.1991 • Feb.1992 • Mar.1993 D Mar.1994 TEQ nc not collected pg.g.1

SITES

North Coast

Prince Rupert

The Prince Rupert area has concentrations of dioxins and June 1989: Extension of the several commercial, aboriginal furans to be Wainwright Basin closure north and east to and recreational fisheries for and Porpoise Harbour in the include Morse Basin. In this shellfish and other species. It is waters between Kaien Island case, DFO left non-commercial also the site of two pulp and and the mainland. crab harvesting open, with an paper mills operated by Skeena advisory on the consumption of Cellulose Inc., which used On the basis of these data crab hepatopancreas. At the chlorine in their pulp bleaching and advice from Health same time, DFO closed all processes unti11993 when Canada, the Government shrimp fishing in Porpoise process changes were took the following action in Harbour and the area of Coast implemented which resulted in the Prince Rupert area: Island. a major reduction of dioxins and furans in the effluents. November 1988: Closure of August 1993: On the basis of Porpoise Harbour and 1992 sampling and Health Sampling and analysis during Wainwright Basin to all crab Canada advice, DFO extended the Program showed the two harvesting. the commercial crab fishing areas that exhibited high closure to include Prince

~ 24 Rupert Harbour and issued a crab harvesting was made in fisheries closures and consumption advisory on September 1996. consumption advisories in the consumption of crab Prince Rupert area as of August hepatopancreas for the area Studies of data collected on 1995 is shown in Figure 7. west of Kaien Island. Dungeness crab at Prince Trends in dioxin and furan Rupert from 1987 through TEQs for Dungeness crab 1990-93: Sampling of shrimp 1993 show a greater than hepatopancreas samples in this period showed a steady tenfold drop in dioxin and collected in the vicinity of decline in dioxin and furan furan concentrations. A map Prince Rupert, from 1989 to concentrations. showing the location of 1994 are presented in Figure 8.

February 1995: DFO reopened shrimp and prawn fisheries but maintained the Figure 7. closure of commercial crab A map showing the location of fisheries closures fishing in Porpoise Harbour and and consumption advisories in Prince Rupert as of August 1995. Wainwright Basin and commercial harvesting in Morse Basin and Prince Rupert Harbour.

Non-commercial crab fishing coni nUBS o K I LOMETRES 5 to be open; crab hepatopancreas August 1995: The need for a consumplion advisory Is lifted contamination related closure - -- Area rema ns closed to commercial crab f sh ng was lifted in Morse Basin, however, the area was not reopened to commercial crab fishing, since it was a management decision to

allocate the area to non­ Digby Kaien Island commercial harvesters only. Island Wainwright Basin was and continues to be closed to all crab harvesting.

April 1996: Non-commercial crab fishing was always open in FISHERY CLOSURES - AUG . 1995 the Coast Island area, with a mC losed to all crab fisheries ~ Closed to commercial crab fishery. consumption advisory on the ~ Consumption advisory for crab hepatopancreas. In April non-commercial crab fisheries. 1996, the need for an advisory was rescinded. This left the area potentially open to commercial crab fishing: a management decision to reopen the area to commercial

25 ~ Figure 8. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the vicinity of Prince Rupert, from 1989 to 1994.

600 r Jan. 1989 • Jun.1990 500 •D Jan.1991 Mar.1992 • Apr.1993 400 •D Apr.1994 nc not collected 300 TEQ pg.g" 200

nc nc nc nc se10 SITES

KitimatArm

The Eurocan Pulp & Paper mill an aluminium smelter and a concluded that the Kitimat at Kitimat was an atypical case methanol plant. River is not contaminated with in this study since it makes dioxins and furans. However, unbleached pulp and has never During the Program, samples of 1989 sampling in KitimatArm used chlorine. However, for a both marine and freshwater showed high dioxin and furan large part of its history, the mill species were collected from the concentrations in crabs. processed wood chips Kitimat River and in Kitimat Further sampling of the same contaminated with Arm. Low concentrations of area by the mill's consultants in pentachlorophenol. The mill dioxins and furans were found 1995 indicated a ten-fold treats its wastewaters before in only one sample taken from reduction in dioxin and furan discharging them into the the river. In that the remainder concentrations. Kitimat River about 7 km from of samples had dioxin and furan the sea. In addition, Kitimat is a concentrations below analytical highly industrialised area with detection limits, it was

~ 26 On the basis of these Figure 9. f1ndings and advice from A map showing the location of fisheries closures Health Canada, the and consumption advisories in Kitimat Arm, as of Government took the February 1995. following action in Kitimat Arm. Eurocan Pulp Mill J.a Kitimat L Minette "" November 1989: Closure of Ocelot Chemicals 1IIIIIIII Bay " •• the northern portion of Kitimat Arm to commercial crab Alcan Aluminum Smelter harvesting and to all clam harvesting. Although the CLOSE TO All Government imposed no ban CLAM HARVESTING on aboriginal or recreational harvesting of Dungeness crab, it O~==-__4km did issue an advisory FISHERY CLOSURES - FEB. 1995 1 recommending limited m Closed to commercial crab fishery. 00 Consumption advisory for consumption of crab non·commercial crab fisheries. hepatopancreas. Crab hepatopancreas consumption limit (grams/week)

November 1990: The Government extended the geographical area of the commercial crab closure and issued a consumption advisory to aboriginal and recreational harvesters in the area.

April 1996: The Dungeness crab fishery was reopened and no dioxin-mediated advisories Strait of Georgia were required. The dioxin and Powell River furan mediated closure for clams remains in effect. Powell River, on the east coast the plant had replaced 80% of of the Strait of Georgia, is an the chlorine used in the A map showing the location of area of diverse and valuable bleaching process with chlorine fisheries closures and fishery resources. Oyster dioxide and had installed a consumption advisories in farming is an important and secondary treatment system. Kitimat Arm, as of February growing industry in nearby 1995 is shown in Figure 9. and In this area DFO analysed a Dioxin and furan TEQs in Malaspina Inlet. sample mix that included Dungeness crab oysters, crabs, clams, prawns, hepatopancreas samples The Program focused on the shrimps, and a variety of fish. collected in Kitimat Arm, from impact on these resources from From 1990 onward, sampling 1990 to 1994, are presented in the MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. pulp and analyses were conducted Figure 10. mill at Powell River. By 1993, by the mill's consultants.

27 ~ Figure 10. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in Kitimat Arm, from 1990 to 1994.

120 Sep.1990 • Mar. 1991 •D Feb. 1992 80 Mar. 1993 TEQ • Mar. 1994 pg.g-1 •nc not collected

40

C2 C4 C7 SITES

When the Program began, a concentrations further aboriginal fisheries stayed open portion of the coastal area had downstream. subject to a consumption already been closed to oyster advisory on hepatopancreas of harvesting because of coliform In view of these f"tndings, Dungeness crab and box crab. contamination. Sampling and the Government took the At this time, an advisory was analysis in 1988 showed low following action: issued recommending against concentrations of dioxin in consumption of livers of rockfish and sole, as well as in November 1989: Closure of bottom-feeding fish caught near prawn, pink shrimp and clam all crab harvesting in the this mill as well as all other B.C. samples. Sampling of fish in immediate vicinity of the pulp coastal mills. 1990 revealed low dioxin mill and closure of some oyster concentrations in muscle tissue harvesting areas. August 1993: A further but higher concentrations in extension of the geographical liver. Sampling of oysters November 1990: The area of the commercial crab showed elevated geographical area of the harvesting closure was issued. concentrations of dioxins close commercial crab fishery closure to the mill, and lower was widened. Recreational and

~ 28 February 1995: Responding August 1995: The Harwood A map showing the location of to declining dioxin concen­ Island area reopened to non­ fisheries closures and trations in samples, the dioxin­ commercial crab harvesting and consumption advisories in the mediated ban on oyster a consumption advisory was vicinity of Powell River, as of harvesting was lifted, but the issued. The remainder of the August 1995, is shown in Figure fishery remained closed in closed area was reopened and 11. Dioxin and furan TEQs in some areas because of no consumption advisory was Dungeness crab hepato­ continued coliform pollution. issued. Consultations were held pancreas samples collected in Portions of the area closed to concerning the commercial the Powell River area, from non-commercial crab harvesting crab harvesting and the area 1990 to 1994, are presented in were reopened, subject to a reopened in 1996. Figure 12. consumption advisory on hepatopancreas tissue.

Figure 11. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in the vicinity of Powell River, as of August 1995.

FISHERY CLOSURES - AUG.1995 Closed to commercial crab fishery. Consumption advisory for non-commercial crab fisheries. Crab hepalopancreas consumption limit (grams/week)

Powell River MacMillan Bloedel Ltd.

Non-commercial crab fishing continues to be open; crab hepatopancreas consumption advisory is lifted. Area remains closed 10 commercial crab fishing pending amendments to existing crab management plans which will be made in consultation with harvesters.

29 ~ Figure 12. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the Powell River area, from 1990 to 1994.

Jan/Feb .. 1990 Mar./Apr. 1991 Feb. 1992 Mar. 1993 • Mar. 1994 nc not collected

TEQ pg.g-1

nc nc nc C14 SITES

Vancouver Island, East Coast

Crofton

Located at Crofton on the east On the basis of emerging November 1990: The coast of Vancouver Island, the data, and advice from commercial crab harvesting Fletcher Challenge Canada mill Health Canada, the closure was extended to produces both bleached pulp Government took the include Burgoyne Bay on and newsprint. By 1993, the following actions: Saltspring Island. Non­ mill had drastically reduced commercial harvesting dioxins and furans in its mill November 1989: Closure of remained open subject to a effluent. The mill discharges its all commercial crab harvesting, human health advisory on the effluent into a well-swept tidal and a consumption advisory on consumption of hepato­ channel inhabited by fish and hepatopancreas for non­ pancreas. shellfish, and that supports commercial fisheries was commercial crab as well as imposed in Stuart Channel and August 1991: The commercial other fisheries. After 1990, Cowichan Bay. Oyster closure and non-commercial sampling and analysis was harvesting was prohibited in a consumption advisory on conducted by the mill's defined area, much of which hepatopancreas were extended consultants. had been closed earlier due to to Ladysmith Harbour and to coliform contamination. Maple Bay.

~ 30 August 1993: Revised was imposed in two areas in advisory was issued. As of early advisories on crab hepato­ the vicinity of the mill from 1997, Kulleet Bay remains pancreas were required, Vancouver Island to Gabriola closed to commercial crab relaxing the consumption limit. Island. Non-commercial crab fishing with a consumption harvesting remained open at advisory in effect for non­ February 1995: The ban on these locations subject to an commercial fisheries. oyster harvesting was lifted, but advisory to recreational and much of the area remains aboriginal fishers on the con­ A map showing the location of closed due to faecal coliform sumption of crab hepato­ fisheries closures and contamination. pancreas. consumption advisories in the Crofton area, and part of the August 1995: Cowichan Bay, November 1990: A northward Harmac area near Nanaimo as an area allocated to aboriginal extension was added to the of August 1995, is shown in fishers, was reopened. No commercial crab fishing Figure 13. Dioxin and furan consumption advisory was closure, again accompanied by TEQs in Dungeness crab issued. a consumption advisory for hepatopancreas samples crab hepatopancreas. collected in the vicinity of Crofton, from 1990 to 1994, are Nanaimo August 1991: A further presented in Figure 14. extension northward and Harmac Pacific operates a southward was added to the bleached-pulp mill at Harmac commercial crab fishery Campbell River near Nanaimo. By 1993 the mill closure, with a consumption had markedly reduced their Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd. advisory for crab hepato­ dioxin and furan concentrations operates a mill at Elk Falls near pancreas. in their effluent. Campbell River, that produces newsprint, kraft paper and August 1993: The commercial All sampling in this area was bleached kraft pulp. By 1993 crab fishery closure was conducted by the mill's the company had also reduced extended southward. consultants. From 1990 to the concentrations of dioxins 1993 samples of Dungeness and furans in its effluents. February 1995: The crabs and rock crabs were government announced that collected at various sites. From 1988 to 1994, shellfish although dioxin concentration Analysis revealed low (less than and fish samples from the area in Dungeness crabs had fallen, 15 pg/gTEQ) to non-detectable were collected and analysed. existing closures would remain dioxin concentrations in the They included stocks of prime in force pending further muscle tissues, but high con­ economic importance to sampling. Revised advisories on centrations in hepatopancreas. commercial, recreational and crab hepatopancreas were aboriginal fisheries. Analyses issued, relaxing the In view of these findings showed high dioxin and furan consumption limit in the area and advice from Health concentrations in the closest to the outfall. Canada, the Government hepatopancreas of Dungeness took the following actions: crabs and in the livers of August 1995: The bottom fish samples. Northumberland Channel was November 1989: A closure reopened for harvest and no of commercial crab harvesting

31 ~ Figure 13. A map showing the location of fisheries closures and consumption advisories in the Crofton area, and part of the Harmac area near Nanaimo as of August 1995.

FISHERY CLOSURES - AUG.1995 Closed to commercial crab fishery. Consumption advisory for non-commercial crab fisheries.

Crofton Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd.

Non·commercial crab fishing continues to be open; crab hepatopancreas consumption advisory is lifted. Area remains closed to commercial crab fishing pending amendments to existing crab management plans which will be made in consultation with harvesters.

o K I LOMETRES 10 --===--=~-

In view of the Imdings, the consumption advisory for further restricting the Government took the bottom fish livers has been in recommended limits for con­ following management effect since 1989. Although sumption of hepatopancreas. actions in this area: recent data indicate declining concentrations, the advisory August 1991: The ban on November 1989: Commercial remains in place to 1998 commercial crab fishing was harvesting of crabs was closed pending further sampling. extended northward, in the western portion of accompanied by a consumption Discovery Passage and a November 1990: The advisory on hepatopancreas to consumption advisory on commercial crab fishery closure participants in recreational and hepatopancreas was issued to was extended. The consump­ subsistence fisheries. non-commercial harvesters. A tion advisory was revised,

~ 32 Figure 14. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopancreas samples collected in the vicinity of Crofton, from 1990 to 1994.

160 Jan. 1990 • Apr. 1991 •D Feb. 1992 ~ Mar. 1993 120r • Mar. 1994 •nc not collected

80 TEO pg.g.1

40

SITES

August 1993: The commercial Elk Falls on the northern coast A map showing the location of crab closure was further of Quadra Island with fisheries closures and extended with the closure of accompanying consumption consumption advisories in the two additional areas, with advisories on crab Campbell River area as of consumption advisories on hepatopancreas in all cases. August 1995, is shown in Figure hepatopancreas. In the newly­ 15. Dioxin and furan TEQs in closed area southeast of Quadra April 1996: The commercial Dungeness crab hepato­ Island, the recommended crab fishery at Elk Bay was pancreas samples collected in consumption limit was zero. reopened and no advisory was the vicinity of Campbell River, issued. from 1990 to 1994, are February 1995: Three new presented in Figure 16. closures were put into place at

33 ~ Figure 15. Reopening closed fisheries: A map showing the location of fisheries closures and how the decisions are made Gonsumption advisories in the Campbell River area as In the course of the Program, the of August 1995. Government closed certain fisheries in British Columbia to protect the health of consumers and to ensure the wholesomeness of Canadian fishery products. Later, as sampling revealed a decline in dioxin and furan concentrations in the biota, some of these fisheries were reopened. DeGisions to reopen the fisheries in British Columbia were based on the follOwing criterla: 1. Data used in reopening decisions are assessed on a species-specific and area­ speGific basis. 1bis means, for example, that prawn, shrimp and oyster harvesting might reopen in a given are".l while arab harvesting stayed closed, even though the closure boundaries overlap. 2 .Partiallifting of harvesting restrictions (i.e. total Glosure to all crab fishing may FISHERY CLOSURES be replaced with a commeraial closure, AUG. 1995 coupled with an advisory on m Closed to commercial hepatopancreas consumption by non­ 00 crab fishery. Consumption GOmmerciai harvesters). advisory for non­ commercial crab fisheries. 3.Afishery reopening must encompass at least one·half of the closed area, or an ~ Crab hepatopancreas entire discrete portion if the closed area ~ consumption limit (grams/week) consists of a number of geographically isolated areas. The reopening area must be r;;-.. Dungeness crab sufficiently separate to protect against the \£J hepatopancreas not to be consumed harvesting of shellfish previously resident in adjacent contaminated areas.

o K ILOMETRES 10 4.Reopening areas requires a minimum of two consecutive years of "Glean" analytical data (I.e. probable daily intake by human consumers docs not exceed tolerable daily intake) and no increase in TEQ concentrations. 5.In addition to sampling by individual pulp and paper mills, independently colleGted audit samples may be colleGted and Vancouver Island, analysed by DFO to ensure that dioxin and furan concentrations are acceptably low. West Coast Pulp and paper mills may be required to do further sampling after fisheries reopen Port Alice, facilities for secondary to confirm that the concentrations remain treatment of its effluent by low. Quatsino Sound January 1, 1996. 6 .The data on which reopening decisions are based are subject to rigorous quality The Western Pulp Partnership assurance and quality control sulphite pulp mill at Port Alice, DFO collected and analysed fish requirements. on Neroutsos Inlet, is nearly 80 and shellfish samples in this 7. Sample collection and analysis are subject to periodical independent audit and/or years old. For the period of the area between 1986 and 1989 confirmation procedures. Program (1989 to 1995), the and found very low 8. When areas have been closed both for mill was still using chlorine in concentrations of dioxins. dioxin and furan contamination and for other reasons, they may remain closed for its production of bleached No closures or advisories other reasons after the dioxin and furan pulp. However, the mill fulfilled were issued. closures are lifted Q.e. in the case of coliform contamination or navigation its commitment to install hazard) .

~ 34 Figure 16. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness Grab hepatopancreas samples colleeted in the vicinity of Campbell River, from 1990 to 1994.

140 Sep.1990 Mar. 1991 120 Feb. 1992 Mar. 1993 100 Mar. 1994 nc not collected 80 TEO pg.g-1 60

40

20

0 C2 C4 C7 SITES

Gold River, Nootka Sound

Canadian Pacific Forest analysed from 1988 to 1994, In view of the f'tndings and Products Ltd. operates a with a particular focus on advice from Health Canada, bleached kraft mill at Gold Dungeness crabs and prawn. the Government took the River on the west coast of From 1990 onward, sampling following action in the Vancouver Island. By 1993, the and analysis were conducted by Nootka Sound area: company had drastically the mill's consultants. Analysis reduced the concentrations of of muscle tissues of fish November 1989: A ban on all dioxins and furans in its showed only low dioxin and harvesting of crabs and prawns effluent. furan concentrations in the was issued for the waters of samples collected. Muchalat Inlet, lying east of the Fish and shellfish samples from Gold River Harbour Limit. this area were collected and

35 ~ November 1990: The closed February 1995: The dioxin­ concentrations between 1988 area was extended to include mediated closure of prawn and 1994. Commercial fishing closure on all crab harvesting in harvesting and non-commercial reopened in 1996. all of Muchalat Inlet. harvesting of crabs was lifted for Muchalat Inlet, subject to a A map showing the location of August 1993: The commercial consumption advisory on the fisheries closures and crab harvesting closure was hepatopancreas. consumption advisories in the extended to Hisnit Inlet. Gold River area as of August Recreational and other non­ August 1995: Hisnit Inlet was 1995, is shown in Figure 17. commercial harvesting stayed reopened and the consumption Dioxin and furan TEQs in open subject to a health advisory was removed. Dungeness crab hepatopancreas advisory on hepatopancreas Sampling and analysis in this samples collected in the vicinity consumption. area showed a clear reduction of Gold River, from 1988 to in dioxin and furan 1994, are presented in Figure 18.

Figure 17. A map showing the location of fisheries Glosures and consumption advisories in the Gold River area as of August 1995. 7

Non-commercial crab fishing continues to Gold River be open; crab hepatopancreas Canadian Pacific consumption advisory is lifted. Area remains closed to commercial crab Forest Products fishing pending amendments to existing crab management plans which will be 2-54 made in consultation with harvesters. 2-55

5-510 Muchalat Inlet

o KIL O M ET RES 5 FISHERY CLOSURES - AUGUST 1995

Closed to commercial crab fishery. Consumption advisory for non-commercial crab fisheries.

Crab hepatopancreas consumption limit (grams/week) Figure 18. Dioxin and furan TEQs in Dungeness crab hepatopanGreas samples collected in the vicinity of Gold River, from 1988 to 1994.

1200 Mar.1988 • Jan/Feb.1990 1000 •D Mar.1991 Feb.1992 1 • Mar.1993 800 t- • Mar.1994 nc not collected 600 TEO pg.g-1 400

SITES

Port Alberni, Alberni Inlet

The focal point of this part of centrations in samples of In view of these fmdings, the the Program was Alberni Inlet, a bottom feeding fish and Government did not find it long, coastal fjord on the west Dungeness crab hepato­ necessary to close fisheries or coast of Vancouver Island. Up pancreas were the lowest of to issue consumption to 1993, MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. any taken in the vicinity of B.C. advisories. operated a semi-bleached pulp coastal mills. mill at Port Alberni. The facility now operates as Alberni Specialities Ltd. producing pulp - from both groundwood and I J 1llO@:P'T ~oastal Sampling chemical-thermal-mechanical pulp mills, using some At the start of Canada's National This work was done for two hydrogen peroxide bleaching. Dioxin Sampling Program, purposes. One was to scientists collected and determine whether atmos- From 1988 to 1994, DFO analysed fish and shellfish pheric deposition of these analysed fish and shellfish samples at sites along the B.C. pollutants was a contributing samples from the vicinity of the coast, far removed from known factor to the concentrations plant site. Dioxin con- dioxin and furan sources. found near the mills. The other

37 ~ was to check on the hepatopancreas samples environmental health of prime showed elevated concentrations. Environment Canada sampling shellfish growing sections of detected dioxins and furans in the Pacific coast, notably oyster In the most recent sampling of sediments. The general pattern farming areas. The data from Victoria Harbour Dungeness of contamination suggested that these studies show that crabs in 1994, DFO analysed the primary source was past atmospheric transport is not a only hepatopancreas tissues. use of chlorophenol wood significant factor in the dioxin Concentrations were high in preservatives. and furan concentrations samples from two harbour detected in the sampling locations. DFO sampled Dungeness crabs program. Some oyster samples in Burrard Inlet and Vancouver yielded elevated dioxin In view of these {"mdings, Harbour. Analysis revealed low concentrations. the Government took the dioxin and furan concentrations following action: in muscle tissue, however, intermediate to high concen­ Ocean Falls, May 1992: Part of the harbour trations were found in the crab Central Coast was closed to commercial crab hepatopancreas. In 1993, the harvesting, accompanied by an Ocean Falls was the site of a Government banned all crab advisory to recreational and Crown Zellerbach pulp mill harvesting in the area of aboriginal users on that closed in the mid-1970s. In Vancouver Harbour between consumption of crab 1989, as part of the broad Lions Gate Bridge and the hepatopancreas tissue. sampling program, DFO col­ Second Narrows Bridge. lected and analysed samples of August 1993: Although dioxin Dungeness crabs close to the August 1995: Although the and furan concentrations had abandoned site. Dioxin and dioxin-mediated closure was declined since the previous furan concentrations were lifted, the area was and will year, the closure was below the analtyical detection remain closed to harvesting due maintained, pending evaluation limits in crab muscle tissue, to navigational hazards. of further data. The however very low concen­ Sampling in 1992 and 1994 consumption advisory was trations were detected in hepa­ showed declining dioxin and revised, allowing for higher topancreas samples. DFO furan concentrations in crab consumption portions of crab conducted no further sampling samples. Low concentrations hepatopancreas. at this site. were found in samples of clams, crab muscle, shrimp and February 1995: The dioxin the muscle tissue of English and furan concentrations British Columbia sole. remained elevated, hence the Harbours crab harvesting closure and As part of Canada's National consumption advisory remained Victoria Harbour Dioxin Sampling Program, DFO in effect. sampled Dungeness crabs from DFO sampled Dungeness crabs a group of British Columbia from Victoria Harbour in 1991 harbours. These included sites and 1992. Muscle tissues at major cities such as Van­ contained very low dioxin and couver and Victoria, as well as furan concentrations, while smaller harbours.

~ 38 - . -. ------~------'

A list of the pulp and paper Table: 3. mills in the Prairie Region A list of the pulp and paper mills in the Prairie Region included included in Canada's National in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program. Dioxin Sampling Program is SITE COMPANY --~------RECEIVING WATERS presented in Table 3. A map of , the Prairie Region, indicating Alberta Procter & Gamble Cellulose Ltd. Wapiti River the location of the pulp and Hinton, paper mills included in the Alberta Weldwood of Canada Ltd. Athabasca River study is shown in Figure 19. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.

The Pas, Manitoba Repap Manitoba Inc. Saskatchewan River

Figure 19. A map of the Prairie Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mils included in the study.

Athabasca ,I I I I , I I I , I / SASKATCHEWAN I I I MANITOBA Repap Manitoba Ltd.'

0 ,,-"

WlMipeg

o Bn",don o

• No Chorine Bleaching

39 ~ burbot, longnose sucker from the was conducted hundreds of miles from the In Alberta, samples were taken commercial fisheries in the sites of other proposed new in the vicinity of the two area. mill sites. Dioxins and furans bleached pulp and paper mills were not detected in fish that currently operate in the In Alberta, the Program also samples. Low concentrations of province. directed its attention to the furans were detected in burbot then proposed sites of pulp and livers, a popular delicacy in the paper mills. The issue of prime aboriginal community. A Wapiti River importance was whether consumption advisory was contaminants from these mills issued for burbot liver. Proctor & Gamble Cellulose might reach the food chain in The results of additional Ltd. operates a bleached kraft the Slave River system, sampling and analysis mill at Grande Prairie that impacting the fish resources on concerning dioxin and furan releases its effluent, after which the aboriginal peoples of concentrations, conducted primary and secondary the Northwest Territories under the auspices of the treatment, into the Wapiti River. depend. Northern River Basin Study and On the basis of preliminary the Department of Indian and sampling in 1987 and 1989, the In this phase of the Program, Northern Development Slave Government issued a DFO analysed samples near a River Environmental Quality consumption advisory on mill that Daishowa Canada Ltd. Monitoring Program, are mountain whitefish caught later built on the Peace River. contained in those reports (see within 10 km of the mill. Other Further sampling of walleye, Further Reading Section, fish were considered safe to northern pike, lake whitefish, 1. MCCarthy et al. 1996). eat.

Athabasca River In 1987 and 1988 DFO analysed low dioxin and furan Fish samples were collected fish samples from the North concentrations. and analysed from the Saskatchewan River near Prince Athabasca River close to Hinton Albert where Weyerhaeuser On the basis of these findings, in southwest Alberta where Canada Ltd. operates a bleached the Government issued no Weldwood of Canada Ltd. pulp mill. Samples of fish taken consumption advisories for fish operates a bleached kraft pulp downstream from the Prince from this area. mill. Sampling in 1987 and Albert mill contained extremely 1989 showed high concentrations of furans and low concentrations of dioxins. As a result, the Government No pulp and paper mills in of a Repap mill that produces issued consumption advisories Manitoba use chlorine as a unbleached pulp. None of the for non-commercial harvesting bleaching agent. DFO analysed samples contained detectable of whitefish, burbot and only four composite samples in concentrations of dioxins or bulltrout. There are no the province, these were taken furans. as reference samples at the site

~ 40 Under Canada's National Dioxin Table 4. Sampling Program, all nine of A list of the pulp and paper mills in the Ontario Region included the pulp and paper mills in in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program.

Ontario that have used chlorine SITE COMPANY RECEIVING WATERS as a bleaching agent were studied. The provincial Dryden Avenor Inc. Wabigoon River government did most of the Fort Frances Rainy River Forest Products Inc. Rainy River, Ulke of the Woods sampling in Ontario. The samples collected represent a Marathon James River Marathon Ltd. Peninsula Harbour, Ulke Superior variety of species that support Domtar Packaging Inc. Nipigon Bay, Ulke Superior the commercial, recreational RedRock and aboriginal fisheries. The Terrace Bay Kimberly Clark Forest species mix included lake trout, Products of Canada Ltd. Blackbird Creek, Ulke Superior northern pike, longnose sucker, Thunder Bay Avenor Inc. Kaministiquia River, Ulke Superior walleye, carp, sturgeon, lake whitefish and yellow perch. Smooth Rock Falls Malette Kraft Pulp & Power Mattagami River

A list of the pulp and paper Fspanola E. B. Eddy Forest Products Ltd. Spanish River, Ulke Huron mills in the Ontario Region Cornwall Domtar Fme Papers Inc. Ulke St. Francis, St. lawrence River included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program is presented in Table 4. A map of bleached kraft pulp. The plant Rainy River the Ontario Region, indicating has Significantly reduced the location of the pulp and dioxins and furans in its Fort Frances paper mills included in the effluent which is discharged Rainy River Forest Products Ltd. study is shown in Figure 20. into the Wabigoon River. manufactures bleached kraft pulp and other products at its Following is a summary of Program sampling found low Fort Frances mill on the Rainy sampling and results by concentrations of dioxins and River. Samples of walleye, watershed and mill site. furans in lake whitefish and white sucker, sturgeon and northern pike. The highest northern pike were collected concentrations of furans were from the river. Wabigoon River in whitefish.

Only one sample, a sturgeon Dryden The government issued no fish fillet from Manitou Rapids, The product line of the Avenor consumption advisories related collected 50 km downstream to the Dryden mill. Inc. mill at Dryden, from the mill, contained northwestern Ontario, includes

41 ~ Figure 20. A map of the Ontario Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mils included in the study.

ONTARIO \

E.B. Eddy Forest Products Ltd. Rainy River Forest - ...... _._ Products Inc.

Avenor Inc.

Domtar Fine Papers Inc.

Kimberly Clark Forest Products of Canada Ltd.

James River Marathon Ltd.

• No Chorine Bleaching

detectable dioxin During the Program, samples of Lake Superior by way of concentrations. No lake trout and longnose sucker Blackbird Creek. consumption advisories for this samples were collected near area were issued. this site and analysed in fillet The earliest Terrace Bay fish form. Analysis revealed elevated samples in the Program data furan concentrations in lake base were collected in 1986 Lake Superior - trout samples. Health Canada and showed medium North Shore determined these concen­ concentrations dioxins and trations did not pose a health furans. During the Program, Marathon hazard. additional fillet samples of lake trout, longnose sucker and James River Marathon Ltd. Terrace Bay whitesucker were collected operates a mill at Marathon, from a point about 15 km Peninsula Harbour, on the north At its Terrace Bay mill, Kimberly downstream of the mill and shore of Lake Superior. The Clark Forest Products of Canada analysed. The analytical data mill's output includes bleached Ltd. produces bleached kraft indicated some decline in hardwood and softwood pulp. pulp. The mill releases its dioxin and furan concentrations effluents into Jackfish Bay on

~ 42 between 1986 and 1989. This Mattagami River In 1992, Health Canada issued a may reflect improvements in consumption advisory the mill's effluent treatment Smooth Rock Falls recommending upper limits for systems during that period. consumption of Spanish River Walleye and white sucker fillets Health Canada issued no walleye. The provincial were analysed from this site consumption advisories. government issued no further where Malette Kraft Pulp & advisories for walleye fillets. Power operates a bleached kraft RedRock Since there is no commercial mill. The highest dioxin and walleye fishery on the river, The Domtar Packaging Inc. mill furan concentrations were in there were no closures. at Red Rock, on Nipigon Bay, white sucker samples. Walleye manufactures bleached and samples contained both dioxin unbleached pulp as well as and furan but at much lower Upper Saint newsprint. concentrations. In 1992, a Lawrence River consumption advisory was During the Program, samples of issued for white sucker fillets Cornwall lake trout, whitefish and white from this area. sucker were collected from In 1987 DFO collected fish waters close to the mill and samples near the Domtar pulp analysis revealed low Spanish River and paper mill at Cornwall. concentrations of furan. This plant manufactures Additional samples were Espanola bleached pulp, fine papers, speciality pulps and coated collected from a reference From 1986 to 1992, DFO board and releases its point (Rossport) midway collected and analysed white wastewaters after primary between Red Rock and the site sucker and walleye samples on treatment to Lake St. Francis on of another mill at Terrace Bay. the Spanish River. Sampling the St. Lawrence River. All but These showed low furan focused on the site of an E.B. one sample from this site concentration. No consump­ Eddy Forest Products Ltd. mill yielded low or undetectable tion advisories were issued for that produces bleached and concentrations of dioxins and fish from these waters. unbleached kraft pulp and furans. The exception, a muscle speciality papers. Thunder Bay tissue sample of carp, contained moderate concentrations of In the 1990 sampling, whole The Avenor Inc. mill on the furans and low concentration fish samples of walleye taken Kaministiquia River at Thunder of dioxins. Bay produces bleached kraft 28 km downstream of the mill were highly contaminated. pulp and newsprint, and has The provincial government has Reference samples were significantly reduced dioxins an ongoing sport fish collected from Agnew Lake and and furans from its effluent. contaminant monitoring upstream points on the river; program and publishes samples from these two sites Lake trout and white sucker consumption advisory tables had dioxin and furan fillet samples were collected for annually based on information concentrations below the limit the Program. Concentrations from Health Canada (see of detection and very low were low and Health Canada Further Reading Section, Guide concentrations respectively. issued no consumption to Eating Ontario Sport Fish). advisories.

43 ~

During the Program DFO Table 5. collected and analysed fish and A Jist of the pulp and paper milJs in the l3urentlan (Quebec) Region crab samples from sites included in the Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program. adjacent to ten Quebec pulp SITE COMPANY RECEIVING WATERS and paper mills. The samples represented 15 different Lebel-sur-Quevillon DomtarInc. Quevillon River species of fish and one Ottawa River crustacean and included some Temiscaming Tembec Inc. sea-going species from the Thurso Industries James Saguenay River, taken Maclaren Inc. Ottawa River downstream of the mill at Portage-du-Fort Les Emballages Stones Inc. Ottawa River JonquU~re.

La Tuque Carton St-Laurent Inc. St. Maurice River A list of the pulp and paper mills in Quebec included in the Trois Rivieres Corporation Stone Consolidated Inc. St. Maurice River Canada's National Dioxin

Sampling Program is presented Windsor Les papiers de in Table 5. A map of the Lau­ communication Domtar St. Francois River rentian (Quebec) Region, indi­ St-FeUcien Donohue St-Felicien Inc. Mistassini River cating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the Jonquiere Cascades Jonqui(:re Inc. Saguenay River study is shown in Figure 21. Bale Comeau Quebec & Ontario Paper Co. Gulf of St. Lawrence

Quevillon River

Lebel-sur-Quevillon dioxins and furans. The revealed only one whitefish Government issued no sample with detectable dioxins. At this site, a Domtar Inc. mill consumption advisories. produces semi-bleached and Portage-du-Fort unbleached pulp. The mill discharges its wastewaters to Ottawa River Samples were collected close to the Quevillon River, which a pulp mill also in at Portage-du­ flows into the Bell River about Temiscaming Fort operated by Les 5 km downstream. Low Emballages Stones Inc. at concentrations of dioxins and Tembec Inc. operates a Portage-du-Fort. The only furans were found in white bleached sulphite mill on the detectable dioxins and furans sucker and sturgeon samples. Ottawa River near Temiscaming. were at low concentrations Apart from this, there were no Program sampling at this site traces in white sucker samples. detectable concentrations of

45 ~ Figure 21. A map of the Laurentian Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study.

\

QUEBEC

Domtar Inc.

Lebel·sur·Quevillon

Cascades Jonquiere Inc. Tembec Inc. Donohue St·Felicien Inc.

Carton St-laurent Inc.

Corporation Stone Consolidated Inc.

les Papiers Industries James de Communication Domtar Maclaren Inc.

• No Chorine Bleaching

No consumption advisories bleached kraft pu1p mill. St. Maurice River were issued for this site. Concentrations of dioxins were low except for a whole fish La Tuque Thurso white sucker sample. One The Carton St-Laurent Inc. mill northern pike sample had DFO also sampled fish at at La Thque has been one of the elevated concentrations of Thurso on the Ottawa River, most thoroughly studied plants furans. The Government issued where Industries James in Canada. Well before Canada's no consumption advisories for MacLaren Inc. operates a National Dioxin Sampling fish from this site.

~ 46 Program, DFO and Environment St. Francois River Saguenay River Canada scientists had investigated the mill's influence Windsor Jonquiere on fish in the Saint Maurice In 1988 and 1989. the Domtar Cascades Jonquiere Inc., located River. In fact, these studies Inc. mill was under on the Saguenay River, operates provided part of the reconstruction. During this a mill that produces bleached information base on which the time, DFO collected and kraft pulp and other products. federal government developed analysed only three samples at Detectable concentrations of environmental effects the site. These yielded dioxins and slightly higher regulations for Canadian pulp evidence of low dioxin concentrations of furans were and paper mills. concentrations in white sucker measured in fish samples fillets and elevated furan collected and analysed by DFO. In 1989, DFO collected and concentrations in whole fish Turbot and crabs taken from a analysed a variety of samples at samples. The Government bay as reference samples points downstream of the mill. issued no consumption displayed the same pattern of Since there was no commercial advisories. dioxin and furan fishery, there were no closures. concentrations. No However, Health Canada issued consumption advisories were advisories for restricted issued for fish taken in these consumption of fillets of brown Mistassini River waters. bullhead, walleye, northern pike The Donohue-St Felicien Inc. and smallmouth bass. These bleached pulp mill is located on advisories are still in effect in the Chamouchouane River and Gulf of 1998. Further sampling is pumps its wastewaters through St. Lawrence planned for this area. a 14-km pipeline to the Mistassini River. DFO sampling Baie Comeau Trois-Rivieres under the Program was concentrated just downstream DFO chose Quebec & Ontario DFO sampled white sucker, from the mouth of the pipe. Paper Co. newsprint mill at Baie walleye and brown bullhead in Samples showed measurable Comeau as a reference site the vicinity of the Corporation amounts of diOxin, with the because it has never used Stone Consolidate mill at Trois­ highest concentrations in chlorine. Samples of cod, Rivieres on the St. Maurice walleye and brown bullhead. flounder and crab taken close River. Analysis revealed no to the mill showed very low detectable concentrations of In 1990, Health Canada issued concentrations of dioxins and dioxins and only very low an advisory to aboriginal and furans. Samples were also concentrations of furans. The recreational fishermen on taken on the St. Lawrence River, Government issued no consumption of walleye from upstream and downstream of consumption advisories. these waters. Further sampling Trois Rivieres. is planned for this area.

47 ~

. " ------

DFO conducted sampling and Table 6. analysis in New Brunswick, A list of the pulp and paper mills in the Atlantic Region Nova Scotia, Prince Edward included in Canada's National Dioxin Sampling Program.

Island and Newfoundland, SITE COMPANY RECEIVING WATERS looking at both freshwater and marine sites. Assessing the Edmunston, N.B. Fraser Inc. Madawaska River data, Health Canada concluded Nackawic, N.B. St.Anne-Nackawic Pulp Co. St.John River that the concentrations of dioxins and furans in samples St.John, N.B. Irving Pulp & Paper Ltd. St. John Harbour of species that people eat did not pose a health hazard. A list Dalhousie, N.B. Avenor Maritimes Inc. Restigouche River of the pulp and paper mills in Newcastle, N.B. Repap New Brunswick Inc. Miramichi River the Atlantic Region included in Canada's National Dioxin Port Hawkesbury, N.S. Stora Forest Industries Ltd. Strait of Canso Sampling Program is presented New Glasgow, N.S. Scott Maritimes Ltd. Pictou Harbour in Table 6. A map of the Atlantic Region indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study is shown in Figure 22. Brunswick

Five pulp and paper mills that unbleached sulphite pulp. St. John Harbour have used chlorine are located These fish did not contain in New Brunswick. Sampling in detectable concentrations of DFO collected and analysed the province covered the dioxins and concentrations of rock crab and lobster samples following five areas and no furans were barely measurable. in the harbour below the outfall consumption advisories or of the Irving Pulp and Paper fishery closures were required Company, a bleached kraft at any of these sites. St. John River operation.

The St.Anne-Nackawic Pulp Co. The dioxin concentrations were Madawaska River operates a bleached kraft mill at below analytical detection Nackawic on the St.John River. limits and the furan DFO collected samples just Sampling at this site produced concentrations were extremely downstream of the Fraser Inc. evidence of low dioxin low in these samples. mill at Edmunston which concentration in white sucker. produces bleached and

49 ~ Figure 22. A map of the Atlantic Region, indicating the location of the pulp and paper mills included in the study.

Avenor Maritimes Inc.

St. Anne Nackawic Pulp Co.

Scott Maritimes Ltd.

Restigouche River more samples here for the dioxin and furan concentrations Program than at any other site in white sucker fillets and Sampling downstream of the in the Atlantic provinces. lobster tissue samples. Avenor Maritimes mill at Analysis showed only low Dalhousie showed low concentrations of dioxins and higher concentrations of furans. otia

Two bleached pulp mills Pictou on Northumberland Miramichi River operate in Nova Scotia; the Strait. Dioxin concentrations STORA Forest Industries mill at were low or undetectable Repap New Brunswick operates Port Hawkesbury on the Strait except for three lobster a bleached kraft mill at of Canso and the Scott hepatopancreas samples from Newcastle and DFO collected Maritimes Ltd. operation at Pictou Harbour and one from

~ 50 the Port Hawkesbury site. the basis of these fmdings, the Furans were measured in Government concluded that no lobster and crab consumption advisories or hepatopancreas samples. On fishery closures were needed.

Edward Island

The only Program sample Lawrence. This yielded only collected in Prince Edward low concentrations of furans Island was of lobster paste and no consumption advisory prepared from lobsters was issued. harvested in the Gulf of St.

- ), ';[, ~.\' .,eundland

There are no operating pulp dioxin concentrations were low and paper mills using the to undetectable in most chlorine bleaching process in samples. Two offshore cod liver Newfoundland, but DFO samples were analysed. collected and analysed samples Samples of lobster for the Program at Clarenville, hepatopancreas collected in close to Newfoundland various Newfoundland bays Hardwoods Ltd., which used contained relatively low chlorophenols as a wood concentrations of dioxins and preservative. Lobster furans. The Government has hepatopancreas and Atlantic issued no consumption cod livers showed low advisories. concentrations of furans but

51 ~ I •. . '

~-~- -- -~ ------

This document summarises the British Columbia remained in force as of 1998. scope, methodology and results Some areas in which dioxin and of a major Canadian The Program focused on this furan concentrations had environmental study, Canada's region because of the relatively declined remained closed National Dioxin Sampling large number of pulp and paper because overlapping closures Program, in the fIrst fIve years mills utilising the chlorine due to other reasons such as of its operation: 1989 to 1994. bleaching process located in sewage contamination (Le. Although sampling has coastal areas. Studies early in oysters) and interference with continued after 1994, primarily the Program revealed elevated major navigational routes (Le. on the west coast, the majority dioxin and furan concentrations Burrard Inlet). No fm fIsh from of data collection occurred in the muscle and hepato­ the marine environment during the fIrst fIve years of the pancreas of Dungeness crabs showed high dioxins and furan program. The primary goal was and in tissues of other species, concentrations in muscle tissue. to determine whether dioxin notably oyster, prawn and and furan concentrations were shrimp. These fmdings In B.C. inland waters, early present in aquatic biota in the triggered closures of work in the Program showed vicinity of pulp and paper mills commercial fIsheries and the some dioxin and furan that historically used chlorine issuing of consumption concentrations in whitefIsh and to bleach their products, and advisories to non-commercial other freshwater species. There whether the concentrations harvesters. are no reports on the con­ found posed a threat to human centrations of dioxins and health. During the course of Continued sampling and furans in bottom dwelling the fIrst fIve years, dramatic analysis during the Program has shellf1sh such as crayfIsh and reductions of dioxin and furan shown a marked, though mussels in the freshwater areas concentrations in the aquatic uneven decline, in the con­ where effluent concentrations biota have occurred. Although centrations of dioxins and of dioxins and furans are high. the subject report does not furans for various species and The Government issued contain detailed information on locations consumption advisories for the fmdings in later sampling various species from specillc initiatives, some qualitative In coastal waters, TEQ values sites on the Thompson and observations based on more fell to concentrations that Fraser River systems including recent analytical results and permitted the repealing of all mountain whitefIsh, northern human health assessments, have oyster, prawn and shrimp squawflsh, peamouth chub, been included in some closures. The decline of dioxin Dolly Varden and white instances. Studies of dioxin and and furan concentrations in sturgeon. In these cases too, furan concentrations in fIsh and Dungeness crab has been less analysis over the course of the shellf1sh during this time uniform and the ban on Program showed a marked suggest the following trends commercial harvesting of this decline in dioxin and furan across Canada. species in some areas has concentrations between 1989

~ 52 and 1994. Additional sampling, bleaching agent, the elimination not included in this report, of contaminated wood chips Canada's National Dioxin conducted under the direction and defoamers from Sampling Program is still in of British Columbia Ministry of manufacturing processes, and progress, and sampling and Environment, Lands and Parks the installation of improved analysis of fish and shellfish has since resulted in most of effluent treatment systems. continues, although with a the consumption advisories change in emphasis. With being lifted due to drastically dioxin and furan concentrations reduced dioxin and furan Canada, East of on the decline, attention is concentrations. British Columbia shifting from human health risks to environmental issues This pattern of declining dioxin In other regions of Canada, associated with pockets of and furan concentrations is Program fmdings triggered no residual dioxin and furan believed to be related to closures because there were no concentrations. Issues on actions taken by Canada's forest commercial fisheries in the which scientists will be products industry in areas involved. However there focusing include the effect of compliance with regulations were active aboriginal and dioxin and furan concentrations aimed at reducing the discharge recreational fisheries in some on the collective health of fish of dioxins and furans to areas of Alberta, Ontario and populations and on the surrounding waters. These Quebec and the appropriate relationship between the rate of measures include, the government agencies issued decline in dioxin and furan replacement of chlorine as a consumption advisories in concentrations under different these cases. tidal and current conditions.

53 ~ Public Information Documents Government of Canada. News Releases and Backgrounders. Government of Ontario 1997. Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish, 1997-1998 (Nineteenth Edition, Revised). Toronto, ON. British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Environment Canada 1993. State of the Environment Report for British Columbia. Victoria, BC and Ottawa, ON. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Pacific Region 1994. Criteria for the Reduction or Elimination of Dioxin­ Mediated Marine Fishery Closures and Consumption Advisories on the . Vancouver, Be.

Amendola, G., D. Blosser, L. Lafleur,A. McBride, F. Thames,T. Tiernon and R. Whittemore 1989. The Occurrence and Fate of PCDDs and PCDFs in Five Bleached Kraft Pulp and Paper Mills. Chemosphere 18: 1181-1188. Environment Canada and Health Canada 1990. Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Priority Substances List Assessment Report No 1, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans, PSL­ IE. Ottawa, ON. Cooper, K.R. 1989. Effects of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans on aquatic organisms. Reviews in Aquatic Sciences 1 (2): 227-242. Dalpe, e.F. 1994. Health Assessment of the Findings of PCDDs/ PCDFs and Cadmium in Fish and Shellfish Collected in the Miramichi River, Proceedings of Miramichi Environmental Science 1994 Workshop. 4 Duncan, R.K. 1993. A Dynamic Chemical Fate Model for 2,3,7,8 - Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin and 2,3,7,8 - Tetrachlorodibenzofuran Emitted from Pulp and Paper Mills in the Fraser River System, British Columbia. MRM Research Project No. 99. Simon Fraser University, BC 221 pp. Huston, B.L. and e.F. Charbonneau 1992. Health Hazard Assessment of the Findings of PCDDs/PCDFs in Fish/Shellfish Collected in the Vicinity of Bleaching Pulp and Paper Mills in Canada. Ottawa, ON. Mah, F.T.S ., D.D. MacDonald, S.W Sheehan, T.M. Thominen and D. Valiela 1989. Dioxins and Furans in Sediment and Fish from the Vicinity ofTen Inland Pulp Mills in British Columbia. Environment Canada, Vancouver Be. 77pp. McCarthy, L.H., G.R. Stephens, D.M.Whittle,]. Peddle, S. Harbicht, e. Lafontaine and D.J. Gregor 1997. Baseline Studies in the Slave River, NWT, 1990-1994: Part II. Body Burden Contaminants in Whole Fish Tissue and Livers. The Science of the Total Environment 197: 55-86. Mitchell, M.F. , Mcleod, H.A. and ].R. Roberts 1984. Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans: Criteria for Their Effects on Humans and the Environment. Prepared for the Subcommittee on Pesticides and Industrial Organic Chemicals. NRCC Document No. 22846. 243 pp. National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) 1981. Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins: Criteria for Their Effects on Man and his Environment. NRCC Document No. 18674. NATO/CCMS 1988. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)/Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS). International Toxicity Equivalency Factor (l-TEF) Method of Risk Assessment for Complex Mixtures of Dioxins and Related Compounds. Pilot Study on International Information Exchange on Dioxins and Related Compounds. Report Number 176. Trudel, L. 1991. Dioxins and Furans in Bottom Sediments near the 47 Canadian Pulp and Paper Mills using Chlorine Bleaching. Water QUality Branch, Inland Waters Directorate, Environment Canada, Ottawa. 253 pp. Whittle, D.M., e. Mageau, R.K. Duncan, D.B. Sergeant, M.D. Nassichuk,]. Morrison and]. Piuze 1993. Canadian National Dioxin Sampling Program: Dioxins and Furans in Biota near 46 Pulp and Paper Mills using the Chlorine Bleaching Process. Chemosphere 27: 279-286.

~ 54