Dm. Whittle et al., CANADIAN NATIONAL DIOXIN SAMPLING PROGRAM - DIOXINS AND FURANS IN BIOTA NEAR 46 PULP AND PAPER-MILLS USING THE CHLORINE BLEACHING PROCESS, Chemosphere, 27(1-3), 1993, pp. 279-286
The Canadian National Dioxin Sampling Program was a 4 year study, init
iated in 1988, to determine the extent of dioxin and furan contaminati
on at marine and fresh water sites in the vicinity of pulp and paper m
ills using the chlorine bleaching process. This national program, coor
dinated by the federal departments of Fisheries and Oceans, Health and
Welfare Canada and Environment Canada, encompassed fish and shellfish
, waterfowl and sediment sampling components. As a result of a review
of the data from this program, some fisheries were closed or advisorie
s to limit consumption were issued in instances where risks were ident
ified due to elevated levels of dioxins and furans. These actions effe
cted commercial, recreational and Native food fisheries in the provinc
es of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.