Environmental Contaminants Program

Of the results of research and monitoring studies on contaminants in northern Canada, conducted under the auspices of the Green Plan's Arctic Environmental Strategy/Northern Contaminants Program. The studies cover sources and transport of contaminants; contamination of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems; human exposure through diet and related health implications; communication and education of northern residents; and international initiatives addressing the global aspect of the problem. For each study, information is given on project leader and team, objective, rationale, description of study, activities in each of its operating years, and results.

The purpose of producing this report is to provide an evaluation of the current state of contamination in the Canadian Arctic environment.

This document has been developed to provide a common federal approach to managing contaminated sites under federal custody. The intended audience for this approach is managers & operational personnel who are responsible for managing contaminated sites on federal lands. The approach incorporates risk-based environmental management which assesses risks to human health & the natural environment under current & intended-use scenarios and implements risk management solutions considered to be protective of those risks. Objectives, methodologies, and intended outputs are described for ten steps of the approach, from identification of suspect sites through detailed testing to final reporting & long-term monitoring. Appendices include a list of guidance documents and generic statements of work for various steps of the approach.

Emerging Contaminants: Anticipating Developments examines the factors that have led "new" environmental contaminants to emerge in the past and combines the lessons learned to anticipate potential new developments. The analyses described in this book originate in multiple disciplines: the science of toxicology; environmental law and regulation; the field of product stewardship; and the social science which explains why ideas take hold. Over a dozen case studies of contaminants that emerged as environmental issues over the last hundred years illustrate crucial points. The results of the analyses in this book support a step-by-step method to assess the potential for a contaminant to emerge, and a framework to apply those conclusions to managing site liabilities. Features: Describes an unprecedented understanding of why contaminants emerge as issues, based on a multidisciplinary analysis Makes abstract concepts tangible, basing analyses on data and illustrating key points with case studies Enables readers to anticipate and prepare to manage future challenges associated with emerging chemicals Presents an analytical framework for companies to assess and manage business risks Written for regulators, policymakers, industry professionals with responsibility for contaminated site management, as well as attorneys, and consultants, this book provides a framework for anticipating the emergence of new contaminants so that the risks–whether to human health and the environment or to a business–can be anticipated and appropriately managed.