Gull, tern egg consumption advisory issued

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued a food consumption advisory for gull and tern eggs for Lake Athabasca and Mamawi Lake. The advisory followed a human health risk assessment conducted by Alberta Health in November 2013. The assessment was as the result of research undertaken by the Joint Oil Sand Monitoring program in 2012, which expressed concern regarding mercury levels. In a Q & A published with the warning, the government states, “The study does not indicate whether or not the mercury is coming from the oils sands related sources.” The findings were published in 2013. Low levels of mercury are a concern particularly to pregnant women and small children, however, all consumers of gull and tern eggs from those two lakes need to restrict their intake. Nunee Health Board Society and First Nations and Métis associations near the lakes have been notified of the risks by Alberta Health.