Mercury poisoning near Grassy Narrows First Nation worsened by ongoing industrial pollution, study suggests
A new study suggests historic problems in northwestern Ontario from mercury contamination in the 1960s and 70s are being made worse by ongoing industrial pollution. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have released the results of a study which found that discharge from the Dryden Paper Mill is combining with mercury dumped into the English-Wabigoon river decades ago to create an even more toxic compound: methylmercury.
![Mercury poisoning near Grassy Narrows First Nation worsened by ongoing industrial pollution, study suggests](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7211779.1716412912!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/grassy-narrows-mercury-study.jpg)
![People are seen collecting samples from the English-Wabigoon River in northwestern Ontario as part of an experiment looking at levels of methylmercury in the water. The study found that large amounts of sulfate and organic matter in the industrial wastewater pouring into the river has fed the amount of methylmercury in the system. People wearing fluorescent vests are seen on the bank shore of a river.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7211779.1716412912!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/grassy-narrows-mercury-study.jpg)
A new study suggests historic problems in northwestern Ontario from mercury contamination in the 1960s and 70s are being made worse by ongoing industrial pollution. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have released the results of a study which found that discharge from the Dryden Paper Mill is combining with mercury dumped into the English-Wabigoon river decades ago to create an even more toxic compound: methylmercury.