Regions: South Slave Region
Tags: contaminants, mining, environmental impact, vegetation, traditional knowledge, traditional medicine
| Principal Investigator: | Katz, Sharon (9) |
| Licence Number: | 14196 |
| Organization: | Aurora Research Institute |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2007
|
| Issued: | Jul 13, 2007 |
| Project Team: | Ruth Ann Gal (Team member, ARI), Tom Unka (Team member, Deninu Ku’e First nation), Chris Heron (Team member, Northwest Territory Métis Nation) |
Objective(s): The objectives of this project are to determine the levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) in edible plants in the area between Pine Point, a site of a closed Pb/Zn mine, and Fort Resolution; to determine the levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) in edible plants along the railroad track between Pine Point and Hay River; to use data collected on an intercept to factorize the metal contribution due to mining activity and to natural soil levels, and to calculate the decline in lead contamination with distance from the mine.
Project Description: The objectives of this project are to determine the levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) in edible plants in the area between Pine Point, a site of a closed Pb/Zn mine, and Fort Resolution; to determine the levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) in edible plants along the railroad track between Pine Point and Hay River; to use data collected on an intercept to factorize the metal contribution due to mining activity and to natural soil levels, and to calculate the decline in lead contamination with distance from the mine. Samples will be collected from eight sites along the road from Pine Point to Fort Resolution, approximately every 5 km. There will be nine sites along the railway line from Pine Point to Hay River, approximately every 10 km. Plants will be sampled at least 200 m from the road or railway. Sampling will alternate between the down hill side and the uphill side of the road (closer and further from the Great Slave Lake, correspondingly). To see if ores are washing into the Great Slave Lake, sediment samples will be taken from four river beds of rivers transecting the road and railway. Collection sites will be selected according to distance from the mine, and favourite harvest sites of community members. Sampling will be taken at various distances along the road as much as possible at a fix distance perpendicular to the road, since the road is speculated to be a transport route. Plenty of traditional knowledge exists about Labrador Tea, as it is used traditionally both as tea and as medicine [Kuhnlein, Marles]. Boiled samples will be prepared according to traditional protocols, so that lead levels in the samples will correspond to levels consumed by residents. The effectiveness of Traditional preparations to extract minerals from the plant will be assessed by comparing the concentrations of nutrients and minerals in the leaves and in tea. As first step, lead content in the leaves will be determined. If samples are found with elevated lead concentrations, leaves from those sites will be boiled and the tea will be sent for analysis. The laboratory analysis is to be carried out in Taiga lab, Yellowknife. Samples will be prepared according to Pugh et al., with one modification of using ICP-MS instead of ICP-AES. ICP-MS has lower detection limit, so dry ashing may not be required. Results from this program will be presented at the NCP results workshop anticipated in the fall of 2008 and a synopsis report will be prepared. All data will be integrated into existing databases. All reports will be kept in the Aurora Research Institute. Fieldwork will be conducted from July 16 to December 31, 2007 at the area from Pine Point to Fort Resolution, and from Pine Point to Hay River.
