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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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potential c<strong>on</strong>cern were documented and that many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the chemicals that may have beenreleased from these sources were identified. Nevertheless, it is possible that additi<strong>on</strong>alsources c<strong>on</strong>tributed <strong>on</strong>e or more chemicals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> potential c<strong>on</strong>cern to aquatic habitats withinthe study area. In particular, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the types andquantities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides that are currently being used withinthe watershed. In additi<strong>on</strong>, limitati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the available source and m<strong>on</strong>itoring data made itdifficult to identify all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the pharmaceuticals and pers<strong>on</strong>al care products, endocrinedisrupting compounds, and c<strong>on</strong>taminants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> emerging c<strong>on</strong>cern that could have beenreleased within the study area. Nevertheless, the potential for missing possible risk driversis likely low due to the breadth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the analysis that was c<strong>on</strong>ducted to develop theInventory <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Aquatic <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>taminants</str<strong>on</strong>g>.Evaluati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the fate and transport <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> chemicals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> potential c<strong>on</strong>cern also represents asource <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uncertainty in the c<strong>on</strong>ceptual model. While a great deal is known about theenvir<strong>on</strong>mental fate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many c<strong>on</strong>taminants, such informati<strong>on</strong> is generally lacking for certainendocrine disrupting compounds and c<strong>on</strong>taminants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> emerging c<strong>on</strong>cern. As a result,partiti<strong>on</strong>ing and persistence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these c<strong>on</strong>taminants is difficult to predict.Identificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exposure pathways also represents a potential source <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> uncertainty in thec<strong>on</strong>ceptual model. In this assessment, it was assumed that surface water and sediments(and associated pore water) represent the most important pathways for exposing sockeyesalm<strong>on</strong> to chemicals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> potential c<strong>on</strong>cern. However, the importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the sediment-basedpathway is uncertain for most stocks. Hence, evaluati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> risks to the sockeye salm<strong>on</strong>associated with exposure to sediments may not be directly relevant for many sockeyesalm<strong>on</strong> stocks.7.2 Uncertainties Associated with the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Effects</str<strong>on</strong>g> AssessmentThe effects assessment is intended to describe the effects that are caused by stressors, linkthem to the assessment endpoints, and evaluate how effects change with fluctuati<strong>on</strong>s in thelevels (i.e., c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the various stressors. There are several sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>uncertainty in the assessment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects <strong>on</strong> aquatic receptors, including measurementerrors, extrapolati<strong>on</strong> errors, and data gaps.In this investigati<strong>on</strong>, the effects <strong>on</strong> sockeye salm<strong>on</strong> associated with exposure to chemicals<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> potential c<strong>on</strong>cern were evaluated using several types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong>, including toxicitythresholds for surface water, toxicity thresholds for sediment chemistry, and toxicity122

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