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Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

Potential Effects of Contaminants on Fraser River Sockeye Salmon

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epellants, and in floorings, paints, and adhesives (MPCA 2008). These substancescan be released to the envir<strong>on</strong>ment during the producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sumer products, asthese products are used, or as such products age and weather. The principal sources<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bisphenol A and phthalate esters are municipal wastewater treatment plant, landfills,c<strong>on</strong>taminated sites, and other facilities that utilize products c<strong>on</strong>taining these chemicals.Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) are a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-i<strong>on</strong>ic surfactants that havenumerous agricultural, industrial, and household applicati<strong>on</strong>s (MPCA 2008). Thesesubstances are used in the producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> detergents, paints, fragrances, spermicides,and certain pesticide formulati<strong>on</strong>s (MPCA 2008). N<strong>on</strong>ylphenol and octylphenol arebreakdown products <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> APEOs. The principal sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> APEOs in the <strong>Fraser</strong> <strong>River</strong>Basin are likely to include municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents, textile planteffluents, and run<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f or effluent from industrial sites (Johannessen and Ross 2002).Landfills and c<strong>on</strong>taminated sites are likely to be additi<strong>on</strong>al sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thesec<strong>on</strong>taminants.Pesticides - A wide variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legacy and in-use pesticides were identified as uncertainc<strong>on</strong>taminants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cern in the <strong>Fraser</strong> <strong>River</strong> Basin. Legacy organochlorine pesticidesare derived from multiple sources, with l<strong>on</strong>g-range atmospheric transport andc<strong>on</strong>taminated soils/sediments likely being the most important. In-use pesticides arereleased to the envir<strong>on</strong>ment from wood preservati<strong>on</strong> facilities, agricultural operati<strong>on</strong>s,and forest management activities. Land fills and wastewater treatment plants can alsorepresent significant sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these c<strong>on</strong>taminants.Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds - Methyl mercury and organotins are theprincipal inorganic and organometallic c<strong>on</strong>taminants in the <strong>Fraser</strong> <strong>River</strong> Basin thathave been dem<strong>on</strong>strated or suspected to act as endocrine disruptors. The principalsources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mercury in the study area include in situ sediments c<strong>on</strong>taminated in thepast, active and aband<strong>on</strong>ed mines, industrial facilities, municipal wastewater treatmentplants, and atmospheric depositi<strong>on</strong> (Rudd 1995). Inorganic mercury can be c<strong>on</strong>vertedto MeHg in lake, riverine, or wetland sediments. The principal source <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organotins tothe aquatic envir<strong>on</strong>ment is through the applicati<strong>on</strong> and weathering <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> antifouling paints<strong>on</strong> ocean-going vessels (Maguire 1996). Therefore, sediments in the vicinity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> bulkstorage and shipping facilities in the Lower <strong>Fraser</strong> <strong>River</strong> represent the main sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>organotins within the study area.Biogenic Compounds - Phytosterols and phytoestrogens are naturally occurringsubstances that can act as endocrine disruptors when released into the envir<strong>on</strong>ment.81

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