HUMAN HEALTH STUDIES LONG REFUSED SO WHAT ABOUT ANIMAL STUDIES?

Out of sight, out of mind. Contaminated deep aquifers under Elmira can't be seen, smelled nor the water consumed anymore. Hence for most , no problem. The contaminated soils, sediments and water in the Canagagigue Creek on the north and east sides of town are rarely seen by locals. The vast majority here in town do not swim or fish in the creek, especially with the warning signs posted on the bridges crossing the creek between here and the Grand River just downstream from West Montrose. Fish studies have been done and they are very bad news. But hey, fish aren't cuddly and if we aren't eating them then who cares?

Well for starts the wildlife in and along the Canagagigue Creek downstream of Elmira care. Fortunately for the provincial Ministry of Environment as well as municipal and regional politicians, they don't vote. Many animals scavenge on dead fish. Others predate upon them such as herons, hawks, eagles, mink, muskrat, raccoon. Perhaps the odd hungry coyote or fox makes the occasional meal from a fish found in shallow water. Certainly this month carp can be readily seen and heard splashing in the shallows as they spawn and are vulnerable to being caught and eaten.

All the dioxin, DDT, PCBs and mercury then move up the food chain. These toxic chemicals will negatively affect wildlife as much or more than they affect human beings. Birds of prey suffer egg shell thinning from DDT exposure which resulted in the prohibition of DDT. The current levels in creek bank soils and creek bottom sediments far exceed both provincial and federal criteria. The concentrations in fish in the Canagagigue Creek also far exceed tissue residue guidelines (TRG) designed to protect consuming wildlife. Isn't it far past time to determine how far up the food chain these toxins have travelled? Isn't it far past time to determine the ongoing damage to wildlife from our collective failure to remove these contaminants from the natural environment?

I'm sure that Lanxess and the MOE wouldn't object. After all they could spin these studies out literally over a minimum of five years and possibly even for ten years. This would give them yet another excuse to keep the shovels out of the ground and refuse to start the decades overdue cleanup of the Canagagigue Creek.