Water monitoring group says pesticides in a northern Ontario river can lead to cancer and other issues

A water quality monitoring group that observes Lake Temiskaming, north of North Bay, says the Wabi River near Temiskaming Shores is facing significant environmental challenges that threaten public safety and the health of its ecosystem. 

The group is based on the Quebec side of the 110-kilometre long lake that straddles the Quebec-Ontario border in the area, and is called the Organisme de bassin versant du Témiscamingue (OBVT).  Over the past two years, Akib Hasan, the organization's coordinator of environmental projects, has extensively monitored the Wabi River, which flows into the lake, and says he has uncovered alarming issues tied to pollution and environmental degradation.

"We have been studying the river for two years and we have data for year one only," Hasan said. "Into 2024, we have taken 50 more samples and we are waiting for the data. The key finding is that we detected 23 pesticides in the river. The highest detected pesticide was Atrazine, which was found in 87% of the samples."

According to Hasan, Atrazine is commonly used to reduce weed growth on agricultural lands. However, this pesticide has been banned in Europe since 2004 due to its harmful effects on humans and the environment. 

"It can cause cancers, tumours, also it has negative impacts over amphibians," Hasan noted. "Randomly, we asked a community member about consumption, and they mentioned that they occasionally drink water from the river. Drinking water with Atrazine can potentially threaten public health."

In addition to pesticides, Hasan is concerned about other pollutants degrading the Wabi River. He says these pollutants can increase the vulnerability of the river and pose significant risks to public health.

"We are also concerned about the sediments going into the river, the waste material that is dumped into the river, and the grey water coming into the river," Hasan said. 

Hasan says agricultural activities dominate the surrounding land, making pesticide contamination somewhat expected. However, he says the lack of monitoring organizations in Ontario exacerbates the issue. 

"There is no organization monitoring these things in Ontario," Hasan said. "We have a conservation authority in North Bay and we also have conservation authority in Timmins, but we have a gap there."

He says OBVT, which is mandated by the Quebec government, is stepping in to fill that gap.

Hasan also highlighted concerns about bioaccumulation, particularly mercury contamination in nearby Lake Temiskaming, as well as the Wabi River and the Blanche River. 

"They are bioaccumulated in the fish body," Hasan explained. "If someone eats that fish, they can consume mercury at the same time."

Temiskaming Shores Mayor Jeff Laferrière emphasized the city's commitment to protecting water resources and addressing public concerns. 

"We just had a detailed strategic plan with input from the community," Laferrière said. "One of the five areas that we're going to be focusing on is the health of Lake Temiskaming, where a lot of our residents get their drinking water. There were some concerns that came up with regards to the health and safety of the drinking water. And we just wanted to make sure that we're doing what we can to make sure that the lake stays healthy. "

Laferrière says he has yet to read Hasan's report, but he has heard similar concerns from citizens.

"We're starting to see a little bit of blue algae in the water sometimes along the shoreline… there is a lot of farming in the area and there's a lot of erosion along the Wabi River," he said. 

The city has engaged the community through surveys, interviews and group sessions to identify priorities for the next five to ten years. 

"As part of the budgeting process, we put some money aside and we're going to start implementing some of those initiatives in early 2025."

To mitigate these issues, Hasan outlined several practical solutions:

• Enhancing riverbank vegetation to filter excessive sediments and nutrients.

• Implementing a comprehensive storm water management system to reduce pollutant inflow.

• Limiting the use of harmful chemicals by promoting alternative materials.

"Maintaining a good river bank is the best possible solution that we can give," Hasan said. "In Europe, they just ban the elements,and if it's banned, it's not going to the ecosystem any more."