June 8 2012

Ottawa Citizen editorial

https://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Paying+generations/6740983/story.html

A new report about the lingering effects of mercury poisoning on two first nations communities in northwestern Ontario offers a cautionary tale about the importance of closely monitoring and understanding what gets put into the environment.

Given plans to rewrite federal environmental protection legislation and the Fisheries Act, the tale could not be more timely.

In 1962, Dryden Chemical Company began operating a plant that produced chemicals for the pulp and paper industry. The company discharged its effluent directly into the Wabigoon-English river system. In 1970, mercury contamination was discovered which resulted in the closing of commercial fisheries and some tourist operations. In March of that year, the Ontario government ordered the company to stop dumping mercury.

Far from being the end of the woes for residents of Grassy Narrows and White Dog First Nations, it was the beginning.

A report released this week by Japanese scientists who have been studying the effects of mercury poisoning for more than 50 years — in Japan and in northern Ontario — found that symptoms of mercury poisoning, or Minimata disease as it is known, continue for the residents of Grassy Narrows and White Dog (now known as Wabaseemoong) decades after the dumping stopped. Notably, even some residents born long after the effluent dumping was stopped now show signs of mercury poisoning, according to the study.

The research underscores several timely things about toxins in the environment — that once mistakes are made, the after-effects can be devastating and long-lasting. More than a generation of residents of the two communities have been directly and indirectly affected by the resulting illnesses, as well as economic and social upheaval. The report also suggests there is still plenty we don’t know about the effects of toxins on the environment and on humans.

The most disappointing thing about the ongoing research on the effects of mercury poisoning on the northern communities is that it has come from Japanese scientists whose findings have, largely, been in contrast to the Ontario and federal governments’ views that things are improving in the communities. The federal government has not conducted comparable research in the area.

This report reminds us that environmental disasters can change lives for generations.

 

Read more: https://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Paying+generations/6740983/story.html#ixzz1xF3G6C96