634
The Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative: A discussion of species at risk conservation, scientific outreach, community and First Nations support
T. Lane, University of Saskatchewan; C. Williamson, Freshwater Fisheries Society of British Columbia; J. Alcaraz, K. Shekh, University of Saskatchewan / Toxicology Centre; M. Hecker, University of Saskatchewan / School of the Environment & Sustainability and Toxicology Centre
Nechako white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) are a genetically unique population of fish which have inhabited the Nechako watershed for roughly 10,000 years. Within the last 50 years this population has suffered significantly because of anthropogenic activities. In 2003, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada identified the Nechako white sturgeon as a Nationally Significant Population. In 2006, this population was further listed as endangered under the Species at Risk Act. Prior to both designations in 2000, the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (NWSRI) was established in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. The goal of the initiative is the conservation and recovery of this one-of-a-kind population of white sturgeon which hold intangible cultural value within communities surrounding the Nechako watershed. A 5-million-dollar aquaculture facility, the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre was designed specifically for the NWSRI, built, and opened in 2014 to provide the resources to further support this conservation effort. This facility was a product of over a decade of work by a Technical Working Group (TWG) and a Community Working Group (CWG). The TWG includes biologists, industry and First Nations members who have a vast knowledge of white sturgeon. The goal of the TWG is to use the best available science, local and traditional knowledge to determine why the Nechako white sturgeon population is declining and to develop a plan to rehabilitate this population of fishes. The CWG is composed of First Nations members, local and regional governments, industry, and public volunteers. The CWG plays a vital role in communication, public outreach, and promoting community involvement. Activities of TWG and CWG support the mandate of the NWSRI through direct involvement of First Nation communities, volunteers and students. The Emergency Sturgeon Live Release Boat Kit program is an example of multiple First Nation communities working in union with the NWSRI to promote conservation and stewardship of Nechako white sturgeon. The annual Juvenile Sturgeon Release event involves students, volunteers and First Nations who release thousands of juvenile sturgeons, which were reared from eggs by the TWG, back into the Nechako watershed. The NWSRI is a unique conservation effort that promotes and utilizes the support of scientists, First Nations, volunteers and students to engage the community in the conservation of an endangered species.
635
The NSERC CREATE H2O Program on First Nations Water and Sanitation Security: Case Studies on Drinking Water Quality
A. Farenhorst, Universsity of Manitoba / Soil Science; W. Ross, University of Manitoba / Centre for Human Rights Research; R. Mi, University of Manitoba / Department of Soil Science; R. Patidar, University of Manitoba / Department of Microbiology; G. Amarawansha, K. Anderson, University of Manitoba / Department of Soil Science; E. Khafipour, University of Manitoba / Department of Animal Science; A. Kumar, University of Manitoba / Department of Microbiology The NSERC CREATE H2O program is the first science-engineering research training program in Canada that combines technical water and wastewater management training with Indigenous theory, law and methodological skills training. Since its inaugural year in 2013, the program has trained 86 students who have collectively worked with 30 First Nations communities in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan, Canada. 33% of the university students and postdocs enrolled in the program self-identify as Indigenous. This presentation provides an overview of the approaches the program is utilizing for: engaging communities and students in research training activities, Indigenizing science and engineering curricula, and designing advocacy strategies to support clean drinking water as a human right in First Nations communities in Canada. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the community-based monitoring programs implemented to examine drinking water quality in First Nations homes. First Nations
communities participating in the research had various types of water distribution systems. Overall, water samples were collected from: lakes and groundwater (source water); water treatment plants, water trucks and community standpipes; homes relying on piped water, wells, above-ground cisterns and underground cisterns; and buckets/drums in homes without running water. Water analysis included standard measures of chemical and bacterial parameters, DNA and RNA techniques for microbial profiling, and the quantification of antibiotic-resistance genes in water samples. The main findings are that despite effective water treatment plants in communities, the tap water in many First Nations homes contained fecal bacteria at alarmingly high levels and antibiotic-resistance genes were also detected in a range of drinking water samples. The issue of poor drinking water quality in First Nations communities in Canada remains unsolved and there is an urgent need
for improved monitoring and upgrading of infrastructure, especially in communities relying heavily on cisterns and community standpipes for drinking water supplies. Most importantly, investments to connect homes directly to water treatment plants via improved pipelines is key to reducing human exposure to waterborne illnesses, while enhancing options for families to participate in economic development, food security and spiritual and cultural wellbeing in their communities.
636
Rare earth elements (REEs) in the Canadian Subarctic: scientific perspectives and community engagement with environmental monitoring in Nunavik, Northern Quebec
G.A. MacMillan, Centre détudes nordiques, Université de Montréal / Department of Biological Sciences; J. Gérin-Lajoie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières / Centre détudes nordiques, Département des sciences de lenvironnement; J. Chetelat, Environment and Climate Change Canada / Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health; E. Hébert-Houle, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières / Département des sciences de lenvironnement; J. Rowell, University of Montreal / Department of Chemistry; J. Heath, The Arctic Eider Society; H. Snowball, The Northern Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq; R. Mickpegak, Sakkuq Landholding Corporation
Kuujjuaraapik; M. Amyot, Universite de Montreal / Département de sciences biologiques
Many communities in Canada’s North are increasingly concerned about the impacts of large-scale socio-environmental changes, such as climate change and
industrialization, on their ways of life. One main concern for northern communities is the environmental impact of mining, including the large number of rare earth element mining projects that are currently being developed in northern Canada. Rare earth elements (REEs) are a chemically-similar group of contaminants of emerging concern, which includes the 15 trivalent lanthanide metals. Not particularly rare, REEs are increasingly exploited for essential uses in high-tech industries, including electronics, clean energy, and agriculture. Although knowledge of the fate of REEs and their impact on natural ecosystems is critically needed as emissions increase, few ecotoxicological studies exist for REEs particularly field-based studies on their bioaccumulation and food web dynamics. To investigate how REEs behave in remote northern food webs, samples were collected from community-driven collaborative research projects with the Inuit communities of Kuujjuarapik-Whapmagoostui (K-W) and Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik (Northern Québec). The combined objectives of these projects were a) to study the behaviour of REEs in northern ecosystems before the start of mining activities and b) to engage community members in the research process through the co-development of objectives, sample collection and the sharing of research results. We asked questions from the scientific perspective and on community engagement: Can we detect REEs in freshwater, marine and terrestrial plants and animals? Do REEs bioaccumulate and bioamplify in northern food webs? How to best establish a sustainable community-based environmental monitoring program? Can we engage the youth in environmental monitoring and science education? Wildlife harvesting and tissue sampling was partly conducted by local hunters, including a range of key species important for both biomonitoring and country food. Indigenous knowledge was used in the study design, to coordinate local sampling, and to decide when, where and what species to collect. Our study presents novel data on the behaviour of REEs in northern ecosystems and recommendations for establishing sustainable and effective community-based environmental monitoring projects with indigenous communities for emerging contaminants.
637
Te Ohu Mō Papatūānuku: A Collective Response to Healing
T. Godfery, H. Hireme, Te Whare Wananga O Awanuiarangi / School of Undergraduate Studies
The use of pentachlorophenol (PCP) as an anti-sapstain in timber treatment, with subsequent disposal of chemically treated wood waste in the Whakatane District of New Zealand has resulted in a legacy of contamination. There are 36 identified wood waste sites located on private and public lands, as well as the customary lands and waters of the indigenous Ngati Awa people. The pervasive effects of contaminants upon both human and environmental health has led to the formation of the collaborative group Te Ohu Mo Papatuanuku. The collaboration is steered by indigenous members of Ngati Awa, whilst being strongly supported by scientists, local government agencies, and industry. As a consequence of ongoing research, the use of a rather unique approach utilising combined myco- and
phyto-remediation to remediate dioxin-contaminated land has been adopted. Whilst implementation of the approach is underpinned by science, the use of “nature to heal nature” is an approach that resonates with the indigenous community. Contemporary environmental problems resulting from anthropogenic activities often require the use of scientific based solutions. Hence, even when indigenous participation is encouraged by the scientific community as part of the problem solving process, the contribution of indigenous knowledge may be considered of less value than scientific knowledge. Of vital importance to ongoing environmental care however, is the role of indigenous knowing – indigenous relationships informed by binding and enduring familial links with lands, waters, and people. This presentation builds upon previous presentations detailing the journey of the Te Ohu Mo Papatuanuku research collaboration – using a synchronistic approach –
whereby science is an integral remedial component and provides a vehicle for remediation to occur, but cultural and soul connections of the indigenous people are the drivers of reciprocal remediation, and subsequent healing. Scientific knowledge applies science and indigenous knowing revitalises relationships, informing and infusing behaviour with an ethos of respect, empathy, and reciprocity.
638
Discussing the Unfamiliar but Contentious: Hydraulic Fracturing Consultation with Remote, Indigenous Communities in the Northern Territory, Australia
R. Smith, Hydrobiology Pty Ltd; R. Pepper, Land and Environment Court of New South Wales; D. Ritchie, Ninti ONe Foundation
On 14 September 2016 the Northern Territory (NT) Government announced a scientific inquiry into hydraulic fracturing of onshore unconventional reservoirs in the Northern Territory (the Inquiry) under the Inquiries Act (NT). The Inquiry was required to assess the available scientific evidence to determine the likely nature and extent of the environmental impacts and risks, including cumulative impacts and risks, associated with hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoirs and the Associated Activities in the NT. The Inquiry was specifically instructed to assesswhether or not there would be unacceptable impacts or risks to economic, cultural and social conditions, by developing and implementing a stakeholder engagement program. Indigenous people make up most of the resident populations in the areas of the shale-gas basins in the Northern Territory. Indigenous people are linked with their land (including waterbodies) by their ancient traditions and contemporary use of their land in accordance with those traditions. As a community, they must be able to maintain their cultural traditions relating to that land in order that their ownership rights continue to be recognised, from one generation to the next. Indigenous communities are therefore particularly vulnerable to degradation of the landscape and the natural systems it supports. Therefore, the Inquiry undertook focused stakeholder consultation with remote indigenous communities across the NT in three rounds of visits for community forums and hearings. These could not be conducted in the same manner as larger community consultation, and featured language and background knowledge barriers that are not typical of even remote non-indigenous community consultation in Australia. A number of these issues, and how they were addressed are discussed. Although the timeframe allotted to the Inquiry was particularly challenging for indigenous community consultation, and hence the extent of engagement in the process varied greatly between communities, nonetheless the Inquiry did achieve substantial engagement with most. The community feedback gained thereby was a vital input into the Inquiry’s assessment of the potential cultural impacts of shale gas development in the NT.
639
Incorporating cultural values and perspectives of First Peoples' (Aboriginal People) into water planning, science and environmental water management
B.J. Moggridge, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra / Institute of Applied Ecology
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth, yet is has been the traditional lands of its original inhabitants Australia’s First Peoples for thousands of generations. Protecting water landscapes (surface and ground water) has always been a high priority for survival in a dry landscape, and protecting water remains a cultural obligation. The challenge for First Peoples is to ensure their value and relationship with water is not diminished or excluded by modern day water planning and science or from environmental flow management. First Peoples acquire the right wisdom and traditional science and knowledge and many indicate that their worldview is seeing water as inseparable from the land and the sky, bound by traditional lore and customs for its protection. For Australia’s First Peoples, occupying an ever drying landscape, traditional knowledge of finding, re-finding and protecting water sites has been integral to their survival for so long. This paper will explore relationships between First Peoples and water planning and
environmental water management in three ways. Firstly, history, challenges and institutional responses in integrating First Peoples cultural values into water planning, science and management. Secondly, propose a series of on-the-ground applications of cultural water and environmental water empirically. Finally, integrating First People’s science into water management will be assessed through comparisons between the Australian situation through case studies looking at models and methodologies.
Improvements in environmental exposure assessment:
Development and application of tools across industry sectors,
regulatory agencies, and international boundaries (II)
640
Tap water intake of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in relation to serum concentrations in a nationwide prospective cohort of U.S. women
X. Hu, F. Laden, Q. Sun, P. Grandjean, Harvard University; L.W. Yeung, University of Örebro / Department of Chemistry; E.M. Sunderland, Harvard University / School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Drinking water advisory levels have been adopted by many regulatory agencies to
reduce chronic exposure to persistent fluorochemicals. However, most U.S. advisory levels are based on the assumption of approximately 20% of overall PFAS intake comes from drinking water. Better characterizing the relative importance of drinking water to overall human exposures is important for developing health protective guidelines. Most previous investigations that have associated drinking water PFAS exposures and total body burdens of these compounds have focused on highly contaminated sites. Exposures to PFASs for the general population of individuals from geographically diverse areas are thus less understood. Here we investigate the relative importance of drinking water for total PFAS exposure among women in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), a large U.S. based cohort study. Our analysis included U.S. women who provided a residential drinking water sample in 1989-1990. We measured concentrations of 11 PFASs in a subset (n=111) of matched archived drinking water samples and serum samples. We evaluated the relative importance of home tap water for measured levels of PFASs in human using both statistical and toxicokinetics (TK) models. Results suggest that home tap water is a significant exposure source for general American women. In 1989-1990, the median contribution of drinking water to serum PFASs in women in the NHS cohort was 8.8% to 30% for the five PFASs modelled. This ratio varies across individuals and compounds by up to a factor of 2-3. We will next investigate how this ratio varies geospatially and whether it is associated with distance to well-known point sources. The spatial analysis results will also be discussed in the presentation. By comparing PFAS concentrations in archived tap water sample with recent tap water samples matched on the township, we found the fraction of quantifiable PFASs (i.e. known PFASs) has decreased in most towns and unknown extractable organic fluorine (EOF) has increased. Our analysis suggests tap water may be a significant exposure source for five PFASs among a group of U.S. women from diverse geographical areas. Increases in unquantified EOF in recent tap water suggest additional quantification would be worthwhile. Other exposure sources such as consumer products are suspected to dominant overall exposure of individuals in the NHS cohort prior to the restrictions and regulations of legacy PFASs in the U.S.
641
Consideration of the bioavailability of metals and metal compounds in freshwaters in regulatory frameworks
H. Ruedel, Fraunhofer IME - Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology / Department of Environmental Monitoring; C. Díaz Muñiz, Cantabrian Basin Authority; H. Garelick, Middlesex University; N. Kandile, Ain Shams University / Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Women; B.W. Miller, US Environmental Protection Agency / National Enforcement Investigations Center; L. Pantoja, Middlesex University / Natural sciences; W. Peijnenburg, RIVM / Center for Safety of Substances and Products; D. Purchase, Middlesex University / Department of Natural Sciences, Faulty of Science and Technology; Y. Shevah, Consulting Engineers and Planners Ltd; P. Van Sprang, ARCHE; M.G. Vijver, CML Leiden University / Conservation Biology; J. Vink, DELTARES / Dept Soil and Groundwater systems
Recent research has demonstrated that both total and dissolved metal
concentrations are not the most appropriate parameters for the risk assessment of metals in aquatic systems. There is an increasing awareness by leading regulatory bodies in the USA, Europe and other countries that the bioavailable fractions of metals could be better descriptors of their risks. The principal concept of metal bioavailability is the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) which allows site-specific assessments of metals’ risks by considering the environmental factors which determine the bioavailability of dissolved metals in the aquatic environment. For many metals bioavailability in freshwaters is modulated by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, water hardness, the pH of the water and other factors such as temperature, concentrations of further ions and suspended solids as well as metal speciation. Metal-specific BLMs were proposed for different biological species and both, acute and chronic exposures. The BLM approach has been described extensively in the scientific literature, and BLMs have been applied for the risk assessment of metals and metal compounds (e.g., for copper and zinc in the EU). In the past, the broader use of the BLM approach for the site-specific evaluation of surface water monitoring data was hampered by the huge data requirements of the original BLMs (several site-specific water parameters). But the recent development of user-friendly BLM-based bioavailability tools (e.g., www.Bio-met.net, www.PNEC-pro.com) now allows the consideration of bioavailability for the evaluation of freshwater monitoring data of relevant metals. Such tools, which only need a basic set of easily available water parameters as input (mostly pH, Ca concentration, DOC, and dissolved metal concentration), are currently available for metals such as lead, nickel, copper and zinc. The new EU WFD environmental quality standards for lead and nickel according to Directive 2013/39/EU now consider the bioavailable fractions of these metals. In this contribution, the advantages and possible drawbacks of BLM-based bioavailability tools are presented highlighting feasibility, ranges of validity, and comparability between tools. Finally, recommendations for the regulatory implementation are given. This contribution is based on the outcome of the IUPAC-supported project “Consideration of bioavailability of metals/metal compounds in the aquatic