50 Years Of Mercury Pollution: Grassy Narrows

Fifty years ago last month, in March 1962, Dryden Chemicals began dumping an estimated 10 metric tonnes of mercury into the Wabigoon River, contaminating the fish which formed the subsistence and economy of three Indigenous communities Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows), Wabaseemoong (White Dog), and some members of Wabauskang who lived at Quibell. Half a century later residents of Grassy Narrows are still grappling with the long term health, social, and economic impacts. Mercury levels in Grassy Narrows fish have yet to return to safe levels. Stopping this pollution, and compensating those affected, was one of the great environmental causes of the 1970s and early 80s.

According to Wikipedia, "in 1962, Dryden Chemical Company began operating a chloralkali process plant in Dryden, Ontario using mercury cells.[1][2] It produced sodium hydroxide and chlorine that were used in large amounts for bleaching paper during production by the nearby Dryden Pulp and Paper Company.[