Question

What evidence indicates that mercury is still leaching into the Wabigoon River upstream of the community of Grassy Narrows, long after the initial dumping of the original 9 tonnes of mercury by the chlor-alkali plant (part of the pulp and paper mill) between 1962 and 1970?

Question 30 options:

Mercury concentrations in fish went down after the old mill stopped dumping mercury directly into the

system, but leveled off at a much higher concentration than normal (background) levels.

Ongoing symptoms of mercury toxicity have been experienced by both young and old people within the

community of Grassy Narrows, which were documented over the decades by researchers from Japan.

There are still high concentrations of mercury in recently laid down surface sediments collected at and

immediately downstream of the former mill site.

All of the above.

Answer 1

All of the above.

Evidence that indicates that mercury is still leaching into the Wabigoon River upstream of the community of Grassy Narrows are as folllows:

1. Mercury concentrations in fish went down after the old mill stopped dumping mercury directly into the system, but leveled off at a much higher concentration than normal (background) levels.

2. Ongoing symptoms of mercury toxicity have been experienced by both young and old people within the community of Grassy Narrows, which were documented over the decades by researchers from Japan.

3. There are still high concentrations of mercury in recently laid down surface sediments collected at and immediately downstream of the former mill site.