EnCompass Environmental has been retained to complete a “Retrospective Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)” to assess potential historical exposures of First Nation community members to contaminants of interest, and related health concerns, associated with contamination from early industrial operations. The HHRA follows general guidance provided by Health Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We use, where available, historical concentrations of contaminants reported in various environmental media (e.g., water, sediment, and fish), as well as historical land use activity patterns (e.g., frequency of local fish consumption, drinking water sources, etc.) to calculate exposures and health risks.

 

The results of the HHRA may be used as one (of potentially several) lines of evidence concerning historical health impacts of First Nation community members exposed to contaminants found in the industrial effluent, with the overall intention of supporting the First Nation healing process and increasing community well-being.