7/31/2019 Lobster Contaminants brochure

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Re

sourceCouncil

GespegewaqMigmaq

Resource Council

Gespegewaq MigmaqLo

bsterConta

minants

Harmful heavy metals

MercuryThe most common form of mercury found in the environment is in

the form of methylmercury. Long term exposure to methylmercurymay cause numbness and tingling in the extremities, blurred

vision, deafness, lack of muscle coordination and intellectual

impairment, as well as, causing harmful effects on thecardiovascular, gastrointestinal and reproductive systems.

During pregnancy, methylmercury can interfere with fetal

development of the central nervous system and can cause neu-rological and developmental delays. Women who are exposed

to methylmercury and breastfeed can expose the child through

the milk.

CadmiumLong-term exposure to cadmium can cause kidney damage,

bone mineral density loss and hypertension. It has also beenlisted as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research

on Cancer.

LeadOngoing exposure of small amounts of lead is harmful, especially

in young children. Some symptoms of long-term exposure tolead include anemia, appetite loss, abdominal pain, headaches

and constipation. Like cadmium, long-term exposure to leadcan also harm the kidneys.

ArsenicInorganic arsenic is not usually found at high levels in food, butlong-term exposure high levels of inorganic arsenic is known to

contribute to the risk of cancer, and can affect the gastrointesti-

nal tract, kidneys, liver, lungs and skin.

Contact us!

For more information on GMRCs projects,

please visit our website at

www.migmaqresource.org

Contact us by email at

info@migmaqresource.org or call us at 418-788-3017

7/31/2019 Lobster Contaminants brochure

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Resource Council

Gespegewaq Migmaq

Since opening in 2007, theGespegewaq Migmaq Re-source Council (GMRC) has been

working to promote sustainableresource management in andaround its member communities

of Listuguj, Eel River Bar, and

Pabineau.

To ensure the safety and well-being

of our community members, the

GMRC has undertaking numerousprojects examining the levels of

contaminates in our traditional

foods.

Most recently, the GMRC began

a project in Eel River Bar to

address a community concern

regarding the levels of heavymetal contaminates within the

lobster traditionally eaten by thecommunity, as the lobster they

consume are obtained from an

area in the Bay of Chaleur thatis plagued with industrial activity.

The aim of the project was to examine the concentrations of

mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, zinc and thalliumin the lobster.

Today, our people are faced with many health problems, such

as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes andcertain types of cancer, as a result of avoiding traditional foods

and adapting a more western diet. This is why the GMRC

encourages the consumption of traditional foods. But we mustalso ensure the safety this food source, as exposure to certain

contaminates can also pose very serious health risks.

Toxins in LobsterLobster is a traditional food source that has sustained our people

for generations, and many can agree, it makes a delicious meal!

Although the GMRC encourages the consumption of lobsters,

here is something to consider the next time you decide to eat alobster!

Avoid eating lobster tomalleyHealth Canada recommends avoiding or limiting the amountof lobster tomalley eaten. Lobster tomalley is the green stuff

found in the body of a cooked lobster and is often considereda delicacy. This green tissue is the pancreas and liver of the

lobster. Like the liver in other animals, it lters toxins, which

can accumulate in the tomalley, becoming more and moreconcentrated over time. If our people consume lobster tomalley,

then these toxins can also accumulate in our bodies over time,

which can pose very serious health risks. Some of these toxinsinclude paralytic shellsh poison and heavy metals.

Paralytic Shellsh PoisoningParalytic shellsh poisoning (PSP) results from eating shellsh

that have fed upon toxic microorganisms that are found in ocean

plankton. PSP toxins accumulate in the tomalley, and canrepresent a potential health risk to who ever consumes it.

The symptoms of PSP may include the less

severe; numbness or tingling of the lips,

tongue, ngers and toes or the more

severe; loss of muscular coordination,

paralysis and the inability to

breathe.

To date, there have been no

conrmed cases of paralytic

shellsh poisoning from

consuming lobster tomalley, but

Health Canada still recommends

that children avoid eating lobstertomalley and adults restrict their

consumption of lobster tomalley to no

more than two a day. There are no Hea

on the consumption of lobster meat as toxin is not normally present in the meat

Heavy MetalsLike PSP toxins, heavy metals can accu

of lobster. These metals can form poi

living organisms, which can cause nume

exposed to for long periods of time.

Denny Isaac, Environmental Manager