The Globe and Mail: Selenium levels in fish raise concerns about pollution from Red Chris mine
Selenium levels have doubled in fish samples taken from Ealue Lake near the Red Chris copper mine in northwestern British Columbia, raising concerns about a naturally occurring chemical element that can be toxic to aquatic life.
The source of the selenium pollution hasn't been determined and the levels are not high enough to pose a human-health concern. But selenium can cause deformities or reproductive failure in fish and that is raising alarms in the small native community of Iskut, near the mine operated by Imperial Metals.
"Until further tests are done by the mine … we are advising you to not fish in Ealue Lake & at this point suggesting Eddontenajon [Lake] as well," Iskut band councillor Jodi Payne wrote in a recent Facebook posting. "I don't want to cause a huge panic right now, just know we have been made aware and made this a priority to assure it gets dealt with ASAP."......