Emerging Substances
Over the last few decades, new substances used in industrial processes and for the fabrication of consumer and pharmaceutical products are increasingly being detected in the environment. Among others, they can disrupt endocrine functions in wildlife. Environment Canada’s Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance programme assess the presence of various emerging substances and their levels in selected ecosystems.
Web Articles
Chemical Management Plan (2011)
Since the launch of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) in 2006, the Government of Canada has worked closely with health and environmental groups, consumer groups and industry to reduce risks to Canadians and our environment by setting clear priorities for the assessment and management of hundreds of chemicals.
Drug cocktail in the St. Lawrence River offers no relief to aquatic organisms (2011)
The research findings of Environment Canada scientists reveal that medications contained in municipal wastewater discharges are present in the waters of the St. Lawrence River. Some of these medicines could pose a threat to aquatic biota.
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Surveillance Network (2011)
The Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Surveillance Network operated by Environment Canada is designed to study the status of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Product pollutants, such as acidic and neutral drugs, in surface waters in Canada.
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) (2011)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of substances used as flame retardants in a wide variety of products. Releases of PBDEs to the environment can occur during manufacturing and processing operations, throughout the service life of articles containing PBDEs, and when articles that contain PBDEs are disposed of. Studies indicate that PBDE levels in Canadian biota are rising, with increases in tissue concentrations evident over the last two decades.
Tracking Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): New Chemical Contaminants in the Environment (2011)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are widely used in industry due to their flame-retardant properties.Although they are useful, these substances accumulate in the environment, including the St. Lawrence River, and questions are being raised about their potential impacts.
Technical summaries and reports
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in the Canadian Environment (2012)
This fact sheet summarizes the monitoring program for PBDEs and provides information on the spatial and temporal distribution of PBDEs in Canada from 1980 to 2010.
The subject of the current report was based on a third National Workshop entitled "Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Canadian Environment: Research and Policy Directions" which took place March 5th to 7th, 2007 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
This publication describes the occurrence and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments across the Great Lakes basin.
Perfluoroalkyl Compounds in Sediments of Tributaries and Open-Water Areas of the Great Lakes (2009)
This report describes the occurrence and distribution of perfluoroalkyl compound concentrations in sediments across the Great Lakes basin.
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