Description: This data was derived as part of the Overall Assessment of the State of Nearshore Waters. Contaminants in bottom sediment have the potential to be released into the water column and enter the food chain, which can lead to toxic and reproductive effects in species, as well as bioaccumulation in aquatic life. Sediment quality is assessed using the severity of median contaminant levels in sediment for four categories (metals, organochlorine pesticides, PAHs and PCBs) at Provincial long-term monitoring stationsin each Regional Unit.Median results for PCBs, metals and PAHs at each index station were calculated, and compared to Provincial and Federal guidelines, for data in 2007, 2010, 2014 & 2016 (most recent sampling years). Provincial guidelines establish three levels of effect:No Effect Level (NEL)indicates concentrations of a chemical in sediment that has no effect on fish or sediment-dwelling organisms; at this level, negligible transfer of chemicals through the food chain and no effect on water quality is expected. Sediment meeting the NEL are considered cleanLowest Effect Level (LEL)indicates a level of contamination that can be tolerated by the majority of sediment-dwelling organisms; sediment that meet the LEL are considered clean to marginally pollutedSevere Effect Level (SEL)indicates a level of contamination that is expected to be detrimental to the majority of sediment-dwelling organisms; sediment exceeding the SEL are considered to be heavily contaminatedFederally, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guidelines refer to a Threshold Effect Level (TEL)that represents the concentration below which adverse biological effects are expected to rarely occur and a Probable Effect Level (PEL)above which adverse effects are expected to occur frequently. The PEL is recommended as an additional sediment quality assessment tool that can be useful for identifying sediments in which adverse biological effects are more likely to occur (CCME, 2001). The Index Station locations are from the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Great Lakes Nearshore Index Station Network.Low Stress: PCBs < No Effect Level, Organochlorine pesticides & PAHs < Lowest Effect Levels, Metals < Probable or Severe Effect Levels; Moderate Stress: PCBs > No Effect Level OR Organochlorine pesticides & PAHs > Lowest Effect Levels OR Metals > Probable Effect Levels but < Severe Effect Levels; High Stress: Any contaminant > Severe Effect Level
Service Item Id: 9ac2cd20a85643b68024956a8e816f11
Copyright Text: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) - Strategic Policy Branch - RDGO
Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Great Lakes Nearshore Index Station Network: https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/sediment-chemistry-great-lakes-nearshore-areas