Fish found to contain high levels of selenium in Schist Lake may have come in contact with the element through mine runoff, say officials with a provincial government ministry.
Last week, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change announced it would ask people to limit how much fish from the lake they eat to four meals per month maximum due to fish from the lake showing high levels of selenium in testing. The fish are still safe to eat, the ministry says, but moderation is recommended, no matter what type of fish is eaten or where in the lake it was caught.
“The risk of short- or long-term health effects from consuming fish from Schist Lake is low. This advice applies to all fish species in Schist Lake," reads the announcement, issued April 19.
Spokespeople from the ministry said that the ministry believes the high selenium levels are tied to historical mining operations in the area. Selenium from industrial operations, including mining, can make its way into water and bioaccumulate in wildlife.
“Wastewater from mining operations contains selenium and has likely contributed to an increase in selenium concentrations in fish in Schist Lake. For nearly a century, several mines have operated in and near Flin Flon and information from fish collected in Schist Lake suggests that selenium concentrations in this lake are higher than in lakes not impacted by the Flin Flon-area mining complex,” said the spokesperson.
“The province is working closely with Hudbay to understand sources of selenium and how to reduce selenium concentrations in the lake.”
Three mines used to operate in the immediate vicinity of Schist Lake, two of which were operated by Hudbay’s predecessor, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting (HBM&S) - the Schist Lake mine, which was in operation from 1954-1957 and 1975, and the Westarm mine, which operated for two periods, from 1978-1985 and 1994-1996. The first mine to operate in the area, the Mandy Mine, operated intermittently from 1916 through to the 1940s.
Not far away were the Cuprus and White Lake mines, both also operated by HBM&S - the Cuprus mine from 1948-1954, the White Lake one from 1972-1976 and 1978-1982.
The spokesperson said selenium has also been detected in fish in Lake Athapapuskow, located downstream from Schist Lake, but the levels found in fish there are still within acceptable limits.
“Selenium has also been detected in fish downstream in Lake Athapapuskow, but these concentrations are lower than in Schist Lake and do not warrant consumption advice at this time,” said the spokesperson.
“Ongoing monitoring of selenium in wastewater, surface water, sediment, and fish tissue will continue to be required to better understand trends over time."
Hudbay will host a public information meeting next week on the findings at the Flin Flon Community Hall May 9 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m., meant to provide details on recent advice from the province.
More information or questions on the matter can be sent to Hudbay’s environment department at [email protected].
