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NRBS - HomeTable of Contents |
Northern River Basins Study Final Report
3.0 Major Findings
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Introduction Sources Environmental Distribution Environmental Effects Effects on Fish Effects on Aquatic Invertebrates Relevant Documents |
| Related NRBS Question: | |
|---|---|
| 2. |
What is the current state of water quality in the Peace,
Athabasca and Slave River basins, including the Peace-Athabasca Delta?
|
| 4. a). |
What are the contents and nature of contaminants entering
the system and what is their distribution and toxicity in the
aquatic ecosystem with particular reference to water, sediments
and biota?
|
| 4. b). |
Are toxins, such as dioxins, furans, mercury, etc., increasing
or decreasing and what is their rate of change?
|
| 5. |
Are the substances added to the rivers by natural and man-made
discharges likely to cause deterioration of the water quality?
|
| 8. |
What is the current concentration of contaminants in water
and edible fish tissue and how are these levels changing
through time and by location?
|
| 13. a). | What predictive tools are required to determine the cumulative effects of man-made discharges on the water and aquatic environment? |
Environmental contamination refers to the addition of any foreign or unwanted substances into the environment. As such, contaminants include those substances that are harmful to ecosystem and human health, as well as those that are deemed undesirable from an aesthetic standpoint. Within the Northern River Basins Study, researchers studied more than a hundred separate chemical constituents in thousands of environmental samples collected throughout the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River basins.
Within the basins, contaminant levels are controlled by a number of regulations and guidelines designed to protect human and ecosystem health. Contaminants can be controlled at their point of discharge (e.g., Canadian Environmental Protection Act Pulp and Paper Regulatory Package), at levels within the environment (e.g., Canadian Water Quality Guidelines), or at the level of the consumer (e.g., fish consumption advisories). A summary of Canadian environmental quality guidelines applicable to the northern river basins can be found in the NRBS synthesis report, entitled "Cumulative Impacts within the Northern River Basins" that is referenced at the end of this section.
This Section summarizes the major sources, distribution and environmental effects of contaminants within the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River basins. It also describes various models designed to predict the fate and distribution of contaminants in the environment and the food web.
A detailed examination of all contaminants studied within the NRBS exceeds the scope of this report. A more thorough contaminant evaluation is found in two NRBS synthesis reports, entitled "Distribution of Contaminants in the Water, Sediment and Biota of the Northern River Basins: Present Levels and Predicted Future Trends" and "Effects of Contaminants on Aquatic Organisms in the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins." Descriptions of many contaminants studied within the context of the NRBS can be found in the glossary.
The basins receive contaminants from several point and non-point sources. Principal point sources include effluent discharges from pulp mills, municipalities and oil sands refineries. Key non-point sources include runoff from land-use activities (e.g., forestry and agriculture), oil sands deposits and atmospheric inputs.
Pulp Mills
True to the origin and scope of the Study, substantial research efforts focussed on the sources, distribution and effects of pulp mill contaminants. These contaminants differ with the technology used in the pulp mill (refer to Figure 3.2.4 in Section 3.2 for more information regarding pulp mill locations and technologies). Principal contaminants in bleached kraft mill effluent include:
Some of these compounds, such as terpenes and chlorophenolics, have been associated with taste and odour problems downstream of pulp mills. Principal contaminants found in thermomechanical and chemi-thermomechanical pulp mill effluent include a variety of plant compounds such as terpenes and aromatic compounds.
Since the late 1980s, improved technologies (e.g., chlorine substitution) have led to the dramatic reduction of some contaminants in pulp mill effluent, particularly a number of organochlorine compounds, such as dioxins, furans, chlorinated resin acids and chlorophenols. Recent upgrades to the Weldwood and Weyerhaeuser pulp mills at Hinton and Grande Prairie are expected to further reduce discharges of chlorinated organic compounds.
Oil Sands
The Athabasca oil sands near Fort McMurray are a natural source of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are also found in effluent from the Suncor oil sands refinery as are several odour-causing substances.
Atmosphere
Global air currents carry contaminants to the northern river basins, where they are deposited into the aquatic environment. NRBS sediment studies reveal that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the insecticide toxaphene and other organic contaminants such as hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorophenolics, hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans can enter the basins through long-range aerial transport.
Uranium Mines
Uranium mines in the Saskatchewan portion of the basin constitute an historical source of radionuclides to Lake Athabasca (see Section 3.2 for more information). NRBS studies reveal that radionuclides levels have diminished since most of the mines closed in the 1970s.
Other
Heavy metals, including mercury, are found in sediments across northern Alberta. Williston Lake is another source of mercury, but studies indicate that this contaminant source is fairly localized and does not significantly affect water quality downstream of the Bennett Dam.
Municipal wastes are an additional source of contaminants to the basins, such as nutrients, insecticides and other select compounds. The implications of nutrients in municipal sewage are discussed in sections 3.7 and 3.8.
| Figure 3.9.1 | Emerson Lakes Sampling Site |
Early in the Study, researchers realized that most of the contaminants of interest were less likely to be found in water than other parts of the aquatic environment. Accordingly, NRBS contaminant investigations placed emphasis on sediment and aquatic organisms, where the probability of detecting the contaminants is greater.
Significantly, contamination of the basins is low in comparison to other systems in Canada and elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, contaminant levels of fish and wildlife are usually within guidelines for the protection of both aquatic and human health. One cause for optimism is the dramatic decline of chlorinated organics in pulp mill effluent. NRBS research has confirmed that upgrades to mill processes have led to lower environmental concentrations of some organochlorine compounds. In the Peace River, for instance, dioxin and furan levels in burbot livers has decreased by more than 50 per cent since 1992. In addition, radionuclide levels in fish from Lake Athabasca were low and well within general guidelines for human health.
While the levels of persistent organochlorines (such as dioxins and furans) are declining and often below guidelines, their mere presence in the food chain still raises concerns regarding ecosystem health. Furthermore, dioxin, furan and mercury levels possibly exceed guidelines in a few basin locations (see Section 3.13 for more information). This information must still be reviewed and assessed by health authorities in the context of human consumption patterns. Based on the contaminant findings, there are several locations in the basins that warrant special attention because of the levels and numbers of different contaminants observed.
Within the Athabasca River, the reach between Hinton and the Emerson Lakes sampling site (Figure 3.9.1) had the highest levels of dioxins, furans, chlorinated phenols and chlorinated resin acids in NRBS sediment and fish samples. This region is more susceptible to environmental contamination due to an unique combination of development and environmental conditions. Researchers determined that pulp mill effluent tends to enhance natural flocculation (or "clumping") of sediments in the environment. Under low flow conditions, these sediments settle to the bottom sooner than under normal circumstances. Since many contaminants tend to adsorb (or "stick") to sediments, the higher amount of sediments in this reach results in higher contaminant levels shortly downstream of the Hinton combined pulp mill / municipal effluent discharge. Researchers believe that under high flow conditions, these sediments and their associated contaminants are redistributed further downstream.
Resin acids are natural plant compounds that exist at relatively high levels in pulp mill effluent. Of particular interest are the more toxic chlorinated resin acids that can be formed during the chlorine bleaching process. Several chlorinated resin acids, particularly chlorinated dehydroabietic acid, were determined to exist in both fish and sediments below the mills. Again, improved pulp mill treatment technologies are believed to have resulted in decreases in chlorinated resin acids. Residual levels still exist in fish and sediments.
Metals are not usually major contaminants in pulp mill effluent, but one unusual case was found in the basins. Effluent from the Hinton combined pulp mill / municipal effluent was found to contain unusually high quantities of heavy metals, including aluminum, manganese and zinc. The Hinton effluent almost doubles levels of these metals in this reach of the Athabasca River. The higher levels of these metals is attributable to the waste treatment process.
Higher levels of PCBs, chlorinated resin acids and PAHs in the Peace River system upstream of the confluence of the Smoky River are related to sediment transport / deposition processes. PCB levels vary across the Peace and Athabasca River basins but studies suggest a possible PCB source in the upper reaches of the Peace River basin. Levels of chlorinated and non-chlorinated organic contaminants in sediments from this Peace River reach are also high—a somewhat perplexing finding given that the nearest pulp mill is over 200 km upstream and that there are no other major industrial developments on the system until Grande Prairie.
Highest levels of PCBs in fish were found in the Wapiti / Smoky and Peace systems. In particular, both the Wapiti River and the Peace River above its confluence with the Smoky River were the highest in this system. PCB levels in fish from the Peace River drainage nearly doubled in three areas between 1992 and 1994—the Wapiti River near Grande Prairie, and the Peace River near Notikewin and Fort Vermilion.
NRBS contaminant studies also revealed that:
NRBS studies within several research components have collected detailed statistics regarding fish mercury levels and fish consumption habits of northern residents. Patterns of mercury contamination in fish remain virtually unchanged since 1988, and tend to be highest in the lower end of the Athabasca River. Fish consumption advisories related to mercury contamination extend to walleye in the mainstem Athabasca River. Interestingly, levels in all subsistence fish collected from the Peace-Athabasca Delta in a special 1994 / 1995 study were below 350 µg/kg—less than the commercial guideline of 500 µg/kg. This information provides a basis for re-evaluating the applicability of these guidelines to current mercury levels and northern lifestyles.
| Table 3.9.1 | Physiological Biomarkers Used in NRBS Contaminants Research |
NRBS researchers conducted a series of integrated studies assessing contaminant effects on fish and other aquatic organisms in the northern river basins. These studies involved the use of a suite of biomarkers—physiological and biochemical "yardsticks" by which researchers can measure exposure to specific contaminants.
It is important to note that biomarkers do not necessarily indicate that an organism is being harmed by a specific contaminant. In the same way that a human would sweat on a warm day, biomarkers may simply indicate that an organism is exposed to some chemical or factor that is causing it to exhibit signs of physiological stress. As such, scientists use biomarkers as sensitive early warning indicators of potential contaminant-induced effects on the ecosystem. Further research is required to define the link between these responses and ecological consequences, such as changes to growth, survival and reproduction.
Different biomarkers are used to indicate physiological stress related to particular contaminant levels and degrees of exposure. A summary of the biochemical biomarkers used in the NRBS is found in Table 3.9.1. As the table illustrates, each biomarker responds to more than one contaminant, necessitating a suite of biomarkers to identify the contaminants causing stress in fish from any particular river reach. Measures of fish and macroinvertebrate population / community changes, physical abnormalities and toxicology were also used.
| Figures 3.9.2 | Environmental Effects: Fish Sampling Sites |
To examine what extent pulp mill discharges were causing stress on fish, researchers from the Contaminants Component measured biomarker responses in different fish species from three general regions: near-field (within 100 km from a pulp mill discharge), far-field (greater than 100 km from a pulp mill discharge) and reference (or "control") locations (Figure 3.9.2). These and other studies indicate that some fish in select regions of the basins are showing signs of physiological stress. While there is currently no evidence directly linking these responses to population or community-level effects, further studies are necessary to more closely examine this relationship.
Sex Hormones
| Figure 3.9.3 | Sex Hormone Levels and Sexual Maturity in Fish from Near-field, Far-field and Reference Sites |
According to NRBS results, levels of sex hormones in fish are affected by their proximity to pulp mill effluent sources. Figure 3.9.3 illustrates average levels of the female sex hormone 17 -estradiol and the male hormone 11-ketotestosterone in fish from near-field, far-field and reference sites. Levels of sex hormones in sexually mature female burbot and longnose sucker at near-field sites were significantly lower than measured values at far-field locations. Similarly, hormone levels in sexually mature male burbot from near-field sites was significantly lower than that at reference locations upstream of pulp mills.
The long-term ecological consequences of these depressed hormone levels are currently inconclusive. NRBS scientists found no direct evidence to link depressed hormone levels to impaired reproductive development in individual fish within this survey. At a population level, however, a large proportion of the fish caught in near-field sites were sexually immature for their age and size. Immature fish represented 27, 62 and 35 per cent of fish caught at near-field sites in the Athabasca, Peace and Smoky Rivers, respectively. Taken together, the percentage of adult-sized but sexually immature fish was greater than 40 per cent in near-field sites (Figure 3.9.3).
Higher incidences of sexually immature fish are generally described as a reproductive disorder and is usually associated with reductions in size, growth rates and poorer condition. However, these secondary effects were not observed in fish samples. In addition, the sexes were not evenly distributed throughout the basins. Females accounted for 70 per cent of fish caught at reference locations, but only 40 per cent at near-field locations and 34 per cent at far-field locations.
NRBS also assessed hormone levels in smaller fish species with restricted distributions and very small home ranges. In spoonhead sculpin, hormone levels did not differ significantly between fish collected upstream and downstream of the Hinton combined effluent discharge. In both fall 1994 and spring 1995, fish collected below the discharge were older, heavier and fatter than fish collected at the reference sites—probably in response to increased nutrient loadings and subsequent higher productivity. Spoonhead sculpin collected from the near-field north bank (outside the effluent plume) showed responses intermediate between those observed for reference fish and near-field south bank (inside the effluent plume).
Mixed Function Oxygenases (MFOs)
| Figure 3.9.4 | MFO Levels in Burbot |
| Figure 3.9.5 | Semi-permeable Membrane Device (SPMD) Deployment Sites |
Relative to other sites in northern Canada, MFO activity in burbot liver was elevated at only two sites in the basins: the Ft. McMurray and Wabasca oil sands areas (Figure 3.9.4). There was little evidence to suggest that these elevated MFO levels are related to their proximity to pulp mills.
Results from a separate but related study using semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) tend to confirm this finding. SPMDs are fat-filled polyethylene tubes that can be strategically deployed in streams to mimic contaminant accumulation in fish. SPMDs were deployed in both river water and effluent in the Peace, Athabasca and Slave Rivers (Figure 3.9.5) . Results indicate that pulp mill effluents are not contributing significant levels of MFO inducers to the Athabasca River. Levels of induction observed for mills in this system were significantly lower than those observed at mills elsewhere in Canada using the same techniques. Of all the effluent sampled, the highest levels of induction were observed in Suncor effluent. In river water samples, the highest levels of induction were observed in the Athabasca River both upstream and downstream of the Suncor discharge.
Vitamins A and E
NRBS studies reveal that despite differences among species, observed vitamin levels were generally high in all species. The one exception to this pattern was observed immediately upstream of Ft. Vermilion, where vitamin imbalances were observed in male and immature burbot. The cause is unknown but is not related to the overall condition of the fish.
Metallothionein
As described above, metallothioneins are a group of proteins involved in the detoxification of heavy metals. Measures of metallothionein in fish collected in the 1994 basin-wide survey indicated that in general, levels were low with the exception of a few specific sites. In particular, burbot collected from the Slave River Delta displayed significantly higher levels.
Relative to other sampling locations, fish in the Pembina River consistently showed elevated metallothionein levels. Overall, metallothionein levels tend to increase from upstream to downstream on the Peace River and on the lower Athabasca River, but there was insufficient evidence to conclude that fish from near-field locations experienced generally higher metallothionein levels than did fish from reference or far-field locations.
External Abnormalities
As part of the of the NRBS sampling protocol, captured fish were routinely checked for external abnormalities, including the presence of tumours, lesions, scars, injuries skin discoloration or deformities. Overall, the incidence of fish abnormalities in the basins was quite low (less than one per cent). Certain fish species from particular locations showed a much higher incidence. In some cases, a higher frequency of external abnormalities may result from physiological or behavioral changes associated with spawning. However, the Food Chain Component obtained some evidence of a higher incidence of abnormalities in fish captured immediately downstream of pulp mills. These qualitative results suggest that the frequency of external abnormalities in fish merits further investigation.
As with fish, NRBS studies on large aquatic invertebrates (or "macroinvertebrates") indicate that these organisms are also experiencing contaminant-related stress in certain river reaches within the basins.
Sediment Toxicity
Overall, NRBS studies revealed no significant effects of sediments on the survival, growth and fertility of macroinvertebrates. However, the Emerson Lakes area of the Athabasca River emerged as a region containing sediments that could impair fertility in at least one of the test species. In addition, contaminant levels in invertebrates from this reach exceeded guidelines.
External Abnormalities
As in fish, the frequency of external abnormalities among large invertebrates may provide valuable insight into the effects of contaminants on biota. NRBS results suggest that the frequency of deformities in several macroinvertebrates may be higher immediately downstream of a pulp mill discharge relative to those living in reference locations or further downstream. The ecological significance of this observation remains to be determined.
Population / Community Response
Exposure to pulp mill effluent did not produce significant and consistent changes in the overall community structure of aquatic invertebrates. NRBS experiments demonstrated the growth rate of certain invertebrate species increased when exposed to pulp mill effluent. However, this effect was attributed to nutrient enrichment and there was no evidence to suggest that effluent contaminants affected growth or survival.
Contaminant Modelling
Researchers within the Contaminants Component created two separate but integrated models for predicting the distribution and fate of contaminants in response to different loadings to the northern rivers, in particular the Athabasca River.
The first model was based on the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP) developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The model was designed to predict concentrations of specific chemicals in several ecosystem compartments (i.e., water and sediments) based on different contaminant discharges into the aquatic environment. Seven compounds were chosen for the NRBS model, six of which are found in bleached kraft effluent and one that represented a common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). The second contaminant model uses output from WASP to predict levels of the same contaminants in the aquatic food chain. Both of these models form the foundation for future assessments of contaminant fate and distribution within the aquatic ecosystem.
NRBS Synthesis Reports
Carey, J.J. and O.T.R. Cordeiro. 1996. Effects of Contaminants on Aquatic Organisms in the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Synthesis Report No. 2.
Carey, J.H., Cordeiro, O.T.R. and B.G. Brownlee. 1996. Distribution of Contaminants in the Water, Sediment and Biota of the Northern River Basins: Present Levels and Predicted Future Trends. Northern River Basins Study Synthesis Report No. 3.
Wrona, F.J., Gummer, Wm., Cash, K.J. and K. Crutchfield. 1996. Cumulative Impacts within the Northern River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Synthesis Report No. 11.
NRBS Technical Reports:
Balagus, P., de Vries, A. and J. Green. 1993. Collection of Fish from the Traditional Winter Fishery on the Peace-Athabasca Delta. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 20.
Barton, B.A., Bjornson, C.P. and K.L. Egan. 1993. Special Fish Collections, Upper Athabasca River, May 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 08.
Barton, B.A. and R.F. Courtney. 1993. Fish and Fish Habitat Bibliographic Database for the Peace, Athabasca, and Slave River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 17.
Barton, B.A., Patan, D.J. and L. Seeley. 1993. Special Fish Collections, Upper Athabasca River, September and October 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 10.
Barton,B.A. and B. R. Taylor. 1994. Dissolved Oxygen Requirements for Fish of the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 29.
Bourbonniere, R.A., Telford, S.L. and J.B. Kemper. 1996. Depositional History of Sediments in Legend and Weekes Lakes: Geochronology and Bulk Parameters. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 71.
Bourbonniere, R.A. 1996. Depositional History of Sediments from Lake Athabasca and Reference Lakes: Chlorinated Contaminants. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 86.
Bourbonniere, R.A., Telford, S.L. and J.B. Kemper. 1996. Depositional History of Sediment in Lake Athabasca: Geochronology, Bulk Parameters, Contaminants and Biogeochemical Markers. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 72.
Brown, S.B., Evans, R.E., Vandenbyllaardt, L. and A. Bordeleau. 1993. Analysis and Interpretation of Steroid Hormones and Gonad Morphology in Fish, Upper Athabasca River, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 13.
Brown, S.B. and L. Vandenbyllaardt. 1996. Analyses of Dehydroretinol, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate and Tocopherol in Fish, Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins, September to December 1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 90.
Brownlee, B.G., Telford, S.L., Crosley, R.W. and L.R. Noton. 1996. Distribution of Organic Contaminants in Bottom Sediments in the Peace and Athabasca River Systems, 1988-92. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 134.
CanTox Inc. 1996. A Bioenergetic Model of Food Chain Uptake and Accumulation of Organic Chemicals in the Athabasca River: Phase I. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 137.
Carson, M.A. and H.R. Hudson, 1996. Sediment Dynamics in the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River System: Implications for Sediment-Associated Contaminants. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 133.
Cash, K. 1995. Assessing and Monitoring Aquatic Ecosystem Health: Approaches Using Individual, Population, and Community / Ecosystem Measurements. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 45.
Clayton, T. and C. McLeod. 1994. A Preliminary Radio Telemetry Noise Scan, Peace, Athabasca River Drainage, March 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 34.
Clayton, T. and C. McLeod. 1994. Seasonal Movements of Radio Tagged Fish, Upper Athabasca River, August 1992 to March 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 33.Cohen, S.J. 1995. The Potential Effects of Climate Change in the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins: A Discussion Paper. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 65.
Court. G., 1993. Collection of Young-of-the-Year Mergansers, Wapiti and Athabasca Rivers, August 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 4.
Crosley, R.W. 1996. Environmental Contaminants in Bottom Sediments, Peace and Athabasca River Basins, October 1994 and May 1995. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 106.
Crosley, R.W. 1996. Contaminants in Water and Sediment Upper Athabasca River, April 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 108.
Crosley, R.W. 1996. Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins, Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans and Resin Acids in Water and Sediment, Athabasca River, February-May, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 130.
Culp, J.M. and P.A. Chambers. 1994. Proceedings of a Workshop on Water Quality Modelling for the Northern River Basins Study, March 22-23, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 37.
Day, K. and T.B. Reynoldson. 1995. Ecotoxicology of Depositional Sediments, Athabasca River, May to September, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 59.
Dobson, E., Day, K. and T.B. Reynoldson. 1996. Ecotoxicology of Suspended and Bottom Sediments, Athabasca, Smoky and Peace Rivers. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 135.
Donald, D.B., Craig, H.L. and J. Syrginnis. 1996. Contaminants in Environmental Samples: Mercury in the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 105.
Dunnigan, M. 1993. Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Identifications on Ekman Dredge Samples, Upper Athabasca River, April and May, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 19.
Dunnigan, M. 1994. Emergent Insect Sampling with Light Traps, Upper Athabasca River, September, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 35.
Dunnigan, M. and S. Miller. 1993. Benthos Field Collections Under-Ice Sampling, Athabasca River, February and March 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 21.
Emde, K.M.E., Smith, D.W. and S.J. Stanley. 1995. An Analysis of Alberta Health Records for the Occurrence of Waterborne Diseases for the Northern River Basins Study. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 54.
Evans, M.S. 1996. Limnological Investigations in the West Basin of Great Slave Lake, March 1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 131.
Evans, M.S., Bourbonniere, R.A., Muir, D.C.G., Lockhart, W.L., Wilkinson, P. and B.N. Billeck. 1996. Depositional History of Sediment in Great Slave Lake: Geochronology, Bulk Parameters and Chlorinated Contaminants. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 99.
Golder Associates Ltd. 1994. Fish Tagging Along the Athabasca River Near Whitecourt, October, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 41.
Green, J.E. 1994. Delta Basins Contaminant Survey, Muskrat Collections in the Athabasca River Delta, December 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 30.
Headley, J.V., Chambers, P.A., Culp, J.M. and K.M. Peru. 1995. Evaluation of Small Volume Techniques for Broad Spectrum Analysis of Biofilm Materials and Bleached Kraft Mill Effluents. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 60.
Hesslein, R.H. and P.S. Ramlal. 1993. Stable Isotopes of Sulphur, Carbon, and Nitrogen in Biota, Upper Athabasca River, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 22.
Horstman, L.P. and T.E. Cole. 1993. Mink Contaminants Study Field Component - January to March 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 01.
Hvenegaard, P.J. and T.D. Boag. 1993. Burbot Collections, Smoky, Wapiti and Peace Rivers, October and November 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 12.
Kenefick, S., Brownie, B., Hrudey, E., Gammie, L. and S. Hrudey. 1993. Water Odour, Athabasca River, February and March, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 42.
Klaverkamp, J.F. and C.L. Baron. 1996. Concentrations of Metallothionein in Fish, Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins, September to December, 1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 93.
Krishnappan, B.G., Stephens, R., Kraft, J.A. and B.H. Moore. 1995. Size Distribution and Transport of Suspended Particles, Athabasca River, February and September 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 51.
Lockhart, W.L. and D.A. Metner. 1996. Analysis for Liver Mixed-Function Oxygenase in Fish, Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Drainages, September to December, 1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 104.
Lockhart, W.L., Metner, D.A., Rawn, D.F., Boychuk, R.J. and J.R. Toews. 1996. Liver Mixed Function Oxygenase in Fish, Upper Athabasca River, Spring and Fall 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 132.
MacDonald, G. and A. Radermacher. 1993. An Evaluation of Dissolved Oxygen Modelling of the Athabasca River and the Wapiti-Smoky River System. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 25.
McCubbin, N. and AGRA Earth and Environmental. 1995. NORTHDAT, An Effluent Database Management System, Application Description. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 16.
McCubbin, N. and J. Folke. 1993. A Review of Literature on Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Characteristics in the Peace and Athabasca River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 15.
Monenco Inc. 1993. Sediment Oxygen Demand Investigations, Athabasca River, January to March, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 03.
Muir, D.C.G. and G.M. Pastershank. 1996. Environmental Contaminants in Fish: Spatial and Temporal Trends of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans, Athabasca, Peace and Slave River Drainages, 1992-1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 129.
Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. and Alberta Research Council. 1994. Winter Under-Ice Tracer Dye Studies, Travel Time, and Mixing Characteristics, Peace River, Shaftesbury Ferry to Notikewin River, February and March, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 36.
Parrott, J.L., White, J.J. and M.E. Comba. Accumulation of Fish Mixed Function Oxygenase Inducers by Semi-permeable Membrane Devices in River Water and Effluents, Athabasca, Peace and Wapiti Rivers, August and September, 1995. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 127.
Parrott, J.L., Hodson, P.V., Tillitt, D.E., Bennie, D.T. and M.E. Comba. 1996. Accumulation of Fish Mixed Function Oxygenase Inducers by Semipermeable Membrane Devices in River Water and Effluents, Athabasca River, August and September, 1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 83.
Pastershank, G.M. and D.C.G. Muir. 1995. Contaminants in Environmental Samples: PCDDs and PCDFs Downstream of Bleached Kraft Mills, Peace and Athabasca Rivers, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 44.
Pastershank, G.M. and D.C.G. Muir. 1996. Environmental Contaminants in Fish: Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Organochlorine Pesticides and Chlorinated Phenols, Peace and Athabasca Rivers, 1992 to 1994. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 101.
Patalas, J. 1993. Lake Whitefish Spawning Study, Below Vermilion Chutes on the Peace River, October, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 23.
Pattenden, R. 1993. Biophysical Inventory of Critical Overwintering Areas, Peace River, October 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 24.
Perrin, C.J., Chambers, P.A. and M.L. Bothwell. 1995. Growth Rate and Biomass Responses of Periphytic Algae to Nutrient Enrichment of Stable and Unstable Substrata, Athabasca River. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 46.
R.L. & L. Environmental Services Ltd. 1994. A General Fish and Riverine Habitat Inventory, Athabasca River, October, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 40.
R.L. & L. Environmental Services Ltd. 1993. Benthos and Bottom Sediment Field Collections, Upper Athabasca River, April to May, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 02.
R.L. & L. Environmental Services Ltd. 1994. A General Fish and Riverine Habitat Inventory, Athabasca River, April to May, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 32.
R.L. & L. Environmental Services Ltd. 1993. Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Identifications, Upper Athabasca River, Spring, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 05.
Saffran, K. 1995. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Identifications, Athabasca River, May and September, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 50.
Saunders, R.D. and E. Dratnal. 1994. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Identifications on Under-Ice Samples, Athabasca River, February and March, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 38.
Scrimgeour, G.J., Chambers, P., Culp, J.M. and C. Podemski. 1995. Identification of Spacial and Temporal Patterns in Nutrient Limitation, Athabasca River, October to December, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 49.
Sentar Consultants Ltd. 1996. A Synthesis of Information on Ecotoxicity of Pulp Mill Effluents In the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 78.
Sentar Consultants Ltd. 1996. A Synthesis of Information on Effluent Characteristics of Municipal and Non-Pulp Mill Industrial Sources In the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River Basins. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 79.
Smithson, G. 1993. Radionuclide Levels in Fish from Lake Athabasca, February, 1993. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 26.
Starodub, M.E. and G. Ferguson. 1996. A Kinetic Model of Food Chain Uptake and Accumulation of Organic Chemicals, Athabasca River: Phase II - Stochastic and Time Variable Version. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 113.
Van Der Vinne, G. 1993. Winter Low Flow Tracer Dye Studies, Athabasca River, Athabasca to Bitumont, February and March, 1992, Part II: Mixing Characteristics. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 14.
Warwick, W.F. 1996. Assessing Pulp Mill Contamination in the Athabasca River using Morphological Deformities in Chironomid Larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae). Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 140.
Wayland, M. 1995. Environmental Contaminants in Mink, Peace and Athabasca Rivers, December, 1991 and January, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 47.
Wayland, M. and T. Arnold. 1993. A Survey of Birds, Wapiti, Peace, and Athabasca Rivers, June and July, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 06.
Wayland, M. 1995. Environmental Contaminants in Muskrats and Canvasbacks, Peace-Athabasca Delta, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 64.
Wayland, M. 1995. Environmental Contaminants in Pre-fledged Common Mergansers, Wapiti River, August, 1992. Northern River Basins Study Technical Report No. 48.
Other Relevant Documents:
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). 1995. Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines for Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans. CCME Summary Version. January 1995.
Peddle, J.D., Lafontaine, G., Stephens, G., Roberston, K. and P. Taylor. 1995. Slave River Environmental Quality Monitoring Program. Interim Data Report. DIAND Water Resources Division, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Peddle, J.D., Lafontaine, C. and S. Moore. 1996. Fort Resolution Fish Monitoring Study 1992-93 / 1993-94. DIAND Water Resources Division, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
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