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Not only is raw sewage flowing into the Ottawa River—so are toxic chemicals.
In a memo sent to city councillors last week deputy manager for infrastructure services Nancy Schepers stated that recent testing found at least 10 chemicals—some of them toxic—in the waterway that is the city’s main source of drinking water.
At least one chemical, Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (PFBS), can result in birth or developmental effects, affect the brain and nervous system, cause cancer and affect reproduction and fertility.
River water samples taken in April 2008 showed 10 compounds from a list of 51 compounds the city tested for.
Those detected include Acetaminophen; Carbamazepine; Lincomycin; Bisphenol A; Progesterone; Diclofenac; Lasaloid A; PFBS; Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
The federal government recently added Bisphenol A to Canada’s list of toxic chemicals.
Scientists have expressed concern that the chemical has the potential to disrupt female biological processes controlled by estrogen. British scientists also announced recently that they have discovered evidence that links the chemical to diabetes and heart disease in adults. The chemical is commonly used in food and drink containers, some baby bottles and many other products used daily.
Among the other chemicals found, Lasaloid A is used as an antibiotic for livestock and PFOS is a key ingredient in some fabric protectors and stain repellents.
Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Isra Levy, said finding such chemicals in the water is a classic case of science outstripping the ability to understand what the impact is on human health over the long run.
“In the long run we may conclude there are health effects or that there are no significant health effects,” said Levy.
NO SURPRISE
He isn’t surprised about the discovery because chemicals can work their way into the water through human metabolism and through simply discarding products into the river.
However, he is encouraged that testing has advanced to the point where small trace amounts of chemicals can be detected.
Earlier this year city councillors approved the city’s Drinking Water Services department testing for any trace amounts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the Ottawa River and city’s drinking water.
The results of a second round of testing will be released in December and will include sampling and analysis of partially treated water and fully treated water.
According to provincial testing, the city’s drinking water meets or is well-within all federal guidelines and provincial health-based water quality standards.
The memo says there are no Canadian or provincial guidelines or standards for any of the compounds that were tested and considers the results “extremely low concentrations,” but the city will continue to monitor the situation closely.
“The information gained from this exploratory sampling program will assist Canadian municipalities to better understand the exposure Canadians have to unintended chemicals that are ubiquitous in our environment,” the memo says.
NOT JUST IN WATER
The memo says that although the city’s Medical Officer of Health and Ontario Ministry of the Environment officials are not “surprised nor concerned” with the test results, “the scientific and health communities are not yet in a position to explain the human health significance.”
Schepers also points out it’s important to understand that the chemicals detected are not only found in the city’s drinking water but are also present in several products available on store shelves.
(C) Ottawa Sun