Mercury's Lingering Impact: A Hidden Story of Grassy Narrows

In the heart of Canada, the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek, known as Grassy Narrows First Nation, have been fighting for their health and environment for many years. This battle began after a massive industrial spill dumped between 9, 000 and 11, 000 kilograms of mercury into their river system. This toxic metal found its way into the freshwater fish that are a key part of their culture, livelihood, and diet. Mercury levels in these fish were some of the highest ever recorded. The Canadian government ran a program from 1972 to 1992 to measure mercury levels in autopsies from this community. In 2017, Grassy Narrows gained access to these autopsy reports. A recent study looked at 21 of these reports, covering the years 1976 to 1986. The study focused on total mercury (T-Hg) and inorganic mercury (I-Hg) in brain, organ, blood, and hair samples. The findings were alarming. The median total mercury level in blood was 6 parts per billion (ppb), ranging from 2. 5 to 100 ppb. In hair, it was 2. 47 parts per million (ppm), ranging from 0. 41 to 49. 8 ppm. Mercury was found in all brain regions, with the highest concentrations in the cerebellum and basal ganglia. Inorganic mercury made up about 25% of the total mercury in all brain regions. In organ samples, mercury levels were even higher. The renal medulla had a median of 290 ppb, the renal cortex 1, 240 ppb, and the liver 300 ppb. The proportion of inorganic mercury was also higher in these organs, ranging from 63% to 82%. The study found strong correlations between mercury levels in hair and most brain regions, blood, and the renal cortex. This suggests that hair mercury levels could be a useful indicator of mercury exposure in the brain and other organs. The study also highlighted the need for more research on the role of the basal ganglia in mercury-related disorders, as this area of the brain has not been widely studied in relation to mercury. The presence of mercury in the brain and other organs adds to the growing body of evidence on the long-term health effects of mercury exposure in this community. The findings underscore the urgent need for continued monitoring and support for the health and well-being of the Grassy Narrows First Nation.