Hatfield has monitored concentrations of dioxins and furans in freshwater and marine ecosystems throughout British Columbia since the late 1980s, when these contaminants were identified in effluents of pulpmills that used elemental chlorine bleaching. Concentrations of dioxins/furans have been monitored in water, sediments, finfish, and shellfish. As an ultra-trace contaminant measured in parts per trillion (in animals) or parts per quadrillion (in water), extreme care and quality control must be taken during this sampling, to ensure samples are not cross-contaminated from other sources.
This regular monitoring has continued to the present in the vicinity of several pulpmills discharging to the marine environment. Decreasing concentrations of dioxins in the environment around most of these pulpmills over the past 20 years has resulted in curtailed monitoring and openings of fishing closures in several receiving environments, although Hatfield continues to undertake regular monitoring at some sites.
