Methylmercury Poisoning: Another Gift from Hydro-Quebec?

ID:	HARP-288
Title:	Methylmercury Poisoning: Another Gift from Hydro-Quebec?
Source:	Cultural Survival Quarterly, Issue 24.2, http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/csq/print/article_print.cfm?id=2AF84137-CF5B-4F50-97A3-DC2CBA55F336
Parties:
Dispute Resolution Organ:
Year:	2000
Pages:	0
Author(s):
Keywords:	Canada, culture, economic, social, and cultural rights, environmental protection, fish, human rights, health, civil and political rights, fishery, Inuit, mercury, minority rights
Abstract:	In 1977, a study of mercury levels in the Innu population of Sheshatshiu revealed elevated mercury levels in 37 percent of the individuals surveyed. The government responded by issuing a press release telling people to limit their consumption of fish to 1/2 lb. per week to deal with “this complex problem, which is worldwide.” (See 1992 posting on the Innu Nation website, www.innu.ca/dam.html.) Steps were also taken to close access to the fishery and post signs warning of the health risks of eating too much fish from reservoirs and downstream areas. Yet the cultural ramifications of this environmental disaster have never been considered.
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