Community Contaminants Testing Program

Assessing Environmental Contaminants in Traditional Foods of Chisasibi

By Nicholas Chakapash

This presentation shares the findings of CERRI’s Community Contaminants Testing Program, led in collaboration with Cree land users, Elders, and youth from Chisasibi. The project focuses on assessing methylmercury levels in traditional foods such as fish and migratory waterfowl—foods that are deeply connected to Cree culture, diet, and identity.

Through seasonal sample collection and laboratory analysis, the study provides clear insight into which species remain safe for regular consumption and which require caution due to higher mercury concentrations. The results help support informed, community-driven decisions about traditional food harvesting and consumption, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and Elders.

This work also highlights the importance of building local capacity for environmental contaminant testing, ensuring that future monitoring can be done more quickly and independently within the community.

Introduction

•The project aims to assess environmental contaminants, specifically methylmercury, in traditional foods such as fish and migratory waterfowl in Chisasibi.

•These foods are an important part of local culture, diet and identity of the Cree Nation of Chisasibi.

Objectives

•Measure mercury in fish & waterfowl; Establish safe portion sizes

•Improve testing capacity and understand seasonal variation

Methods: Sample Collection

•Sample collection was conducted in collaboration with Cree land users, elders, and youth.

•Collection efforts took place during relevant seasonal periods of spring and fall to align with traditional harvesting times.

Testing & Analysis

•Fish: Tested for total methylmercury (muscle tissue)

•Waterfowl: Mercury testing in muscle and liver tissue

•Shellfish: Mercury levels in whole flesh

•Analysis conducted at RPC lab with high-precision standards

Results: Mercury Concentration in Fish

•Brook Trout: Low mercury levels, all below the health advisory limit 0.5 ppm.

•Sculpin: Low mercury, well within safe limits.

•Whitefish: Low concentrations, safely below the threshold.

•Lake Trout: High mercury levels, many samples above the advisory threshold.

Results: Mercury Concentration in Waterfowl

•Canada Goose: While breast samples showed very low concentrations, the liver reached a maximum of 0.06 ppm.

•Across all three species, mercury levels were higher in the liver than in the breast, showing that the liver is the main site of accumulation.

Recommendations

•Safe Consumption Guidelines: Encourage moderate consumption of species with lower mercury concentrations, while limiting intake of species found to have higher levels..

•Community Awareness: Share results with community members to support informed decision-making about traditional food consumption.

•Capacity Building: Strengthen local capacity for contaminant testing so results can be produced more quickly and independently in the community.

•Pregnant women, young children, and elders are more vulnerable to mercury’s effects, as it can impact brain and nervous system development or overall health.

Consumption Guidelines

•Whitefish: Despite higher levels in LG-2, most CH-1 Whitefish samples remain well below health advisory limits, making them generally safe to eat in moderation.

•Brook Trout: Results suggests moderate consumption

•Eider duck: Maximum weekly breast intake, in grams, for adults: 739g, for 19 & under: 158g to 633g.

•Lake trout: While Lake Trout is valued as a traditional food, results suggest caution in frequent consumption due to elevated mercury levels.

•Long tail duck: It is advised to avoid consumption of the liver due to high mercury levels.

•Merganser: It is advised to avoid consumption altogether due to high levels of mercury.

Full presentation availabvle here