MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN NORTHERN QUEBEC ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

It has been well documented in Northern Quebec and elsewhere that leve ls of mercury (Hg) in fish front natural lakes often exceed the Canadi an marketing standard (0.5 mg/kg). However, little information is avai lable on the presence of Hg in wildlife other than fish or in abiotic compartments of the environment. Hydro-Quebec has conducted a study to assess the nature and the extent of the present Hg contamination in N orthern Quebec aml to acquire baseline data to monitor long term tempo ral changes. The results indicate that the levels of Hg observed in th e environment are generally within the background levels reported for comparable pristine environments. However, total Hg concentrations in biota do reach high levels in piscivorous fishes, birds and mammals.