River contamination by paper mill effluents

The Pigeon River study.

Temporal (recovery) responses.


From 1988 to 2000 the levels of dioxin decreased in three species of fish sampled from the Pigeon River at PRK 27, which is 75km downstream of the paper mill.



Activity of a MFO detoxification enzyme (EROD) in male sunfish from the pigeon River which reflects reduced contaminant loading in the river from 1990 to 2001.


Temporal change in the size distribution of sunfish at reference and contaminated
(Pigeon River) sites showing the gradual appearance of smaller fish in the Pigeon River as contaminant levels have decreased.


Under reduced contaminant stress, redbreast sunfish appear to be allocating increased (assimilated) energy to growth and less to lipid storage.


The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) from the fish communities at a reference site and the Pigeon River, illustrating improvement in the IBI over time in the Pigeon River following remediation activities at the upstream paper mill.


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