Wet, wild weather and wastewater

Photo: Megan Coad, Swim Drink Fish

 

Wet and wild weather is causing issues for residents of downtown Toronto. Following a massive storm event, the City of Toronto’s combined sewer system was overwhelmed with rainwater, causing it to discharge fill 500 Olympic-sized pools of partially treated wastewater into Lake Ontario.

 

 

The bypass forced the city to close several public beaches due to high E. coli levels, though most beaches have since reopened. To help address events such as this in the future, Swim Drink Fish is petitioning the City of Toronto for real-time monitoring in an open letter. 

Click here to learn more about combined sewer overflows. Check local water quality at your favourite beaches using Swim Guide.

Microplastics Found In Freshwater Sportfish

Photo: Scott Parent

A recent study has found microplastics in recreationally caught fish from an urbanised area of the Great Lakes.

A group of scientists took 45 samples of six fish species collected from Lake Ontario at Humber Bay near Toronto, ON that were examined for anthropogenic particles in their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and fillets.

The six species tested were brown bullheads, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass and white suckers. Across all individual fish from all six species, the total number of anthropogenic particles (AP) per fish ranged from 2 (a largemouth bass) to 1,503 (a white sucker) particles. AP were observed in all tissue samples, except for three fillets and one GI tract. The body burden of microplastic was also significantly different among species and seemed to bioaccumulate in white suckers and brown bullheads but not the other species tested.

Based on the number of AP observed in the edible portion (fillets) of the samples (the GI tract is typically not consumed), the number of AP that would be consumed in a serving ranged from 0 AP (individual largemouth bass and brown bullhead) to 854 AP (a smallmouth bass).

Freshwater fish have been observed to have a higher body burden of microplastics than marine fish. Laboratory studies have also demonstrated microplastics can cause a variety of detrimental effects on fish, including negative effects on growth, reproductive changes and reduced survival. These, and other impacts on fish, represent a concern in terms of reducing the quality and quantity of fish as a food source.

Concerns surrounding the direct harm of consuming microplastics arises owing to the potential for microplastics to cause negative physical and chemical effects, including those caused by additives in plastic as well as contaminants sorbed from the environment, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.

Understanding trends of anthropogenic particle contamination in fish is useful for understanding how to minimise exposure for consumers.

Train derailment leads to water advisories along the St. Clair

Aamjiwnaang First Nation, as well as several residents in the township of St. Clair, are still feeling the impacts of a train derailment that occurred over the weekend at Arlanxeo Canada Inc, a manufacturer of synthetic rubber, that caused diesel fuel to spill into the St. Clair River. Aamjiwnaang Emergency Planning released an urgent notice on Aug 4 advising community members to avoid swimming in the St. Clair River until further notice, after a sheen was observed accumulating on the water’s surface.

Lambton Public Health also announced the water supply was contaminated for private drinking water users in specific areas.

“I myself am really upset that this was not reported as a spill when it happened,” said Mayor Jeff Agar on the notification process. “Our emergency personnel was not informed until it was discovered as a sheen in the river. I will pursue this to ensure the safety of all St. Clair Township residents.”

Absorbent booms have been put in place on the St. Clair River in an effort to contain the spill. The volume of diesel spilled into the river is still unknown. Aamjiwnaang Emergency Planning continues to update their community.