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Chemical Monitoring in Local Foods: Mercury in Fish

Description

Mercury (Hg) enters the environment through natural processes and human activities. There are three forms of Hg: elemental (metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury salts and organic mercury... More ≫

Description

Mercury (Hg) enters the environment through natural processes and human activities. There are three forms of Hg: elemental (metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury salts and organic mercury compounds. Methylmercury (MeHg) is often formed from inorganic mercury during biological processes such as methylation by microorganisms in water and sediment. MeHg can accumulate in aquatic organisms including fish. People are exposed to very low levels of mercury in the air, water and food. Some people may be exposed to relatively higher levels of mercury by eating MeHg-containing fish. MeHg accumulates in the human body over time and because it is a known neurotoxin, it is necessary to limit human exposure to MeHg. To protect public health, Health Canada has proposed mercury guidelines and advisories for fish consumption based on total mercury (THg; all forms of Hg in a sample). This dataset was collected as part of long-term monitoring of mercury levels in various species of fish in Albertan...

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Master schedule of standards and conditions

Description

Alberta Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator manage the use of public lands for all Albertans through the issuance of dispositions. A disposition must be obtained under the... More ≫

Description

Alberta Environment and Parks and the Alberta Energy Regulator manage the use of public lands for all Albertans through the issuance of dispositions. A disposition must be obtained under the Public Lands Act for any access to or activity on public lands and in compliance with the Public Lands Administration Regulation. The Master Schedule of Standards and Conditions (MSSC) identifies conditions that apply to formal disposition applications approved under the Public Land Act. Conditions displayed in this document are part of multiple approval systems and processes. The MSSC updates and replaces two previous departmental condition documents: the Integrated Standards and Guidelines for the Enhanced Approvals Process disposition applications and the Master Schedule of Conditions that addressed disposition applications for any remaining public lands disposition applications.

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Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta - Trace Elements

Description

In rural Alberta, 90 per cent of people use private well water supplies for domestic use (e.g., drinking, cooking, bathing). Domestic well water systems are not regulated by the provincial or... More ≫

Description

In rural Alberta, 90 per cent of people use private well water supplies for domestic use (e.g., drinking, cooking, bathing). Domestic well water systems are not regulated by the provincial or federal governments. The Government of Alberta along with Alberta Health Services (AHS) provides water chemistry testing of private well water and information and advice on safe water for domestic purposes; however, it is the responsibility of well owners to ensure the quality and safety of their water supply. Water quality may be impacted by contamination from natural sources or human activities and cause noticeable aesthetic issues or potential health concerns. Water samples are collected and submitted by well owners through local AHS sites for analysis of routine chemistry and trace element parameters. Routine chemistry testing focuses on the suitability of the water for drinking and household use with two health-related parameters. For trace elements, testing used to be conducted only when...

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Alberta Oil Sands Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Analysis

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Alberta oil sands greenhouse gas emission intensity analysis for the period of 2011 to 2022.

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Cyanobacterial blooms in Alberta recreational waters

Description

Cyanobacteria (also referred to as blue-green algae) are common photosynthetic bacteria that live in surface waters. Under favorable conditions, such as warm water and high nutrient content, these... More ≫

Description

Cyanobacteria (also referred to as blue-green algae) are common photosynthetic bacteria that live in surface waters. Under favorable conditions, such as warm water and high nutrient content, these bacteria can form nuisance “blooms”. The presence of blooms in recreational water causes unpleasant aesthetics and exposure to some toxin-producing blooms may pose potential health risks. Contact with blooms can cause skin rashes and irritation, itchy eyes, and ear infections. Inhaling water may cause allergic-like reactions, runny noses or sore throats. Ingestion of toxins can cause a range of symptoms (e.g., hepatotoxic or neurotoxic effects, and even death). There has been increased public awareness as a result of research over the past 20 years, recent monitoring efforts, and increased public education on the topic. In 2009, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services began seasonal monitoring for cyanobacterial blooms at high use recreational beaches. In 2019, beach operators took over...

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Swan Hills Treatment Center: PCBs and PCDD/F in wild game and fish tissue (1999-2014)

Description

The Swan Hills Treatment Centre (SHTC) is a facility for the safe disposal of special wastes located approximately 12 km northeast of the town of Swan Hills, AB. On October 16, 1996, a malfunction... More ≫

Description

The Swan Hills Treatment Centre (SHTC) is a facility for the safe disposal of special wastes located approximately 12 km northeast of the town of Swan Hills, AB. On October 16, 1996, a malfunction of a transformer furnace was discovered to have caused the release of a portion of process gases containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) into the ambient air. These chemicals can be harmful to human health. Therefore, in 1997 Alberta Health (AH) conducted a human health risk assessment study to estimate human exposure and to evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions. As a result of the study, food consumption advice for wild game and fish taken within a 30 km radius of the facility were issued out of concern that PCBs and PCDD/Fs were accumulating in these locally caught foods. A long-term environmental monitoring and human exposure assessment program has been ongoing since 1998 to monitor concentrations of...

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Compliance Cost Containment Program - List of Designees and Support

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The Compliance Cost Containment Program provides relief to eligible facilities experiencing economic hardship as a result of compliance cost obligations under the Technology Innovation and... More ≫

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The Compliance Cost Containment Program provides relief to eligible facilities experiencing economic hardship as a result of compliance cost obligations under the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation (TIER) (and formerly under the Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation (CCIR)). This dataset lists the names of regulated organizations and facilities that have received program support in past compliance years, as well as the type(s) of support provided to each facility. Program support types include: Additional Compliance Flexibility – Under CCIR and TIER, the quantity of credits (Alberta-based emissions offset credits and emissions performance credits) an organization may use to comply with the true-up obligation for a regulated facility in any compliance year is limited by a compliance flexibility limit threshold. The additional compliance flexibility provided to designated compliance cost containment facilities removes the threshold for a designated...

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AEIR Air Emission Rates

Description

These datasets contain information on industrial sources and air emission rates collected under the Alberta Annual Emissions Inventory Reporting (AEIR) Program.

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Area fugitive emissions from oil sands mines

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This greenhouse gas emissions dataset shows area fugitive emission from tailings ponds and mine face at the oil sands mining facilities in Alberta. The data were reported between 2011 and 2021... More ≫

Description

This greenhouse gas emissions dataset shows area fugitive emission from tailings ponds and mine face at the oil sands mining facilities in Alberta. The data were reported between 2011 and 2021 under the Technology Innovation and Emission Reduction Regulation and preceding regulations in Alberta. The produced bitumen and the diluent flared/wasted volumes reported in the Alberta Energy Regulator's statistical report ST-39 are included in the dataset for reference.

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Forest management herbicide reference manual [2023]

Description

The purpose of this manual is to ensure Forestry Division personnel and industry: are familiar with current Crown land/forest management herbicide use regulations and policies; take an active role... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this manual is to ensure Forestry Division personnel and industry: are familiar with current Crown land/forest management herbicide use regulations and policies; take an active role in ensuring herbicide use on Crown land is in accordance with policies and requirements; recognize obvious and important violations of provincial legislation governing herbicide use on crown land; are comfortable performing basic herbicide inspections; and are aware of incident reporting mechanisms and follow-up.

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