From :  <colin.higgins@mnr.gov.on.ca>
Sent :  January 10, 2005 3:54:31 PM
To :  theriaultjoel@hotmail.com
CC :  j.j.beechie@mnr.gov.on.ca
Subject :  RE: Meat Analysis
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Joel,

I have a contact for you who can either provide you with the type of
information you are looking for or will be able to tell you where you can
get it.  	

His name is Wayne Bell and he is a Research Scientist and the resident
expert on this subject.  Wayne works from Sault Ste. Marie where he is with
the Forest Research Division.  You can reach Wayne at 705-946-7401.

Sorry for the run-around, but since Peterborough District has no forester on
staff and very little Crown forests to manage we're not current on a lot of
the present (and past) forestry practices.

I hope this helps,

Colin Higgins/J.J. Beechie
MNR
Peterborough


-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Theriault [mailto:theriaultjoel@hotmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 5:22 PM
To: colin.higgins@mnr.gov.on.ca
Cc: j.j.beechie@mnr.gov.on.ca
Subject: RE: Meat Analysis

Colin,

I checked out the labs which you had suggested, but they told me that they 
weren't set up to test the toxicity of the meat for 2, 4-D (the active 
ingredient in Vision herbicides which are used in my area. (Error in original transmission:
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Vision / Round-Up.  2, 4-D & Vision are sprayed in my area.)
  As I'm sure that this type of request is common place, I'm wondering how to get a hold 
of the official MNR lab's to check for the toxicity levels of the meat to 
determine if it's fit for human consumption.  Also, could you put me into 
contact with the herbicide expert within the MNR that may be able to answer 
some questions I had on 2, 4-D and studies which had been done on the 
chemical?  Thanks Colin,

Joel Theriault

From: colin.higgins@mnr.gov.on.ca
To: theriaultjoel@hotmail.com
CC: j.j.beechie@mnr.gov.on.ca
Subject: RE: Meat Analysis
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2004 11:07:01 -0500
Joel,

A search on the web shows that there is a lot of information on 2,4,-D 
which
is a phenoxy herbicide.  I have put some links here.  Because of the two
sided nature of the subject the most unbiased source of information would
likely be from universities.  One might try U of Guelph.

phenoxy herbicides

Review of the Literature on Herbicides, Including Phenoxy Herbicides and
Associated Dioxins http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/orange/phd93.html





A report from BC Ministry of Forests
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/hfp/external/!publish/Dost_Papers/5-Dost-24D.pdf



Sierra club Fact sheet and references
http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/programs/health-environment/pesticides/2-4-d.html


A research paper on 2,4-D
http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/H48-10-1-40-1993E.pdf


From BC Resources Inventory Committee Publications - Environmental
monitoring in Range and Wildlife Habitat Management
http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/teecolo/habitat/


Environmental Appeal Board decision regarding wildlife and pesticide
http://www.eab.gov.bc.ca/pest/99pes03a_08a.htm


Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/index/fssae.shtml

 

From :  Joel Theriault <theriaultjoel@hotmail.com>
Sent :  December 3, 2004 3:04:15 AM
To :  colin.higgins@mnr.gov.on.ca
CC :  lorraine.norris@mnr.gov.on.ca, jeff.wiltshire@mnr.gov.on.ca, michael.gatt@mnr.gov.on.ca
Subject :  RE: Meat Analysis
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Thanks for the response Colin,

Original Questions..

   
Where was the bear shot? (Township, closest town, road intersection, etc)
Approximately 20 miles up Warren Carty Road, Foleyt Ontario Area...

    How large was it?

425 pounds

    Male or Female?

Male

    Who butchered it?

I did... never trust a butcher working on a time clock....

    Any sign of disease or parasite?

The bear looked extremely healthy... I was with another guy that had guided and seen hundred of bears killed... he didn't see any problems either..


    Did the bear you shot have an ear tag?  (Or damage to one of the ears
consistent with a tag being ripped off?)

No damage to the ears... i'm positive of this.. i specifically looked at the ears to see if it had been fighting... but no damage...

A couple of Questions for you guys....
I'm looking for research reports that have been done on the environmental effects of the herbicides being used in the area... I believe its called 2,4-D....
I'm looking for studies regarding direct effects on humans from direct consumption as well as effects on humans from eating animals which have consistently been exposed to the herbicide.
- Also, how long do traces of the herbicide stay in the flora?
I'm looking for lists of herbicides that have been used over the last 50 years in forestry, and why they have been discontinued.
I'm looking for studies on fish from the presence of the herbicide in the water, and the differing effects regarding the differing concentrations...
Basically, i'm looking all the studies that have been done regarding the long term and short term environmental and health effects of the herbicide which is currently being used in my area.
I was told by a senior bear tech that he didn't know of any studies which had been done regarding the effects of the herbicide on Bears, let alone the health effects on humans from eating bears which had been consistently exposed.... Kind of worried regarding the lack of information...
Thank you much for the information.... I'm guessing there must be a link to a government website with all the information, and the link would be adequete...

I'm also looking for research regarding alternative's to herbicides, mostly grazing animals... I know that other provinces use grazing animals, and i'd like to see some empirical evidence as to why Ontario hasn't taken the same route.

Once again,
I thank all of you for your time and concern...Thank you Colin, Lorraine, Jeff, and Michael...

Joel Theriault








    From: colin.higgins@mnr.gov.on.ca
To: theriaultjoel@hotmail.com
CC: lorraine.norris@mnr.gov.on.ca, jeff.wiltshire@mnr.gov.on.ca, michael.gatt@mnr.gov.on.ca
Subject: Meat Analysis
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 12:02:18 -0500

Dear Mr. Theriault,



I have checked with Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture
and Food and the Food Safety Network and have been given the following two
labs in Southern Ontario who will do tissue analysis:



Maxxam Analytics

Mississauga, ON

Toll Free: 1-800-563-6266

www.maxxam.ca <http://www.maxxam.ca/>



University of Guelph Laboratory Services Division

Guelph, ON

519-767-6299

Email: info@lsd.uoguelph.ca <mailto:info@lsd.uoguelph.ca>



The labs will be able to recommend the most appropriate tests to be
performed and what the costs would be for each test.



Just out of curiosity:

Where was the bear shot? (Township, closest town, road intersection, etc)

How large was it?

Male or Female?

Who butchered it?

Any sign of disease or parasite?

Did the bear you shot have an ear tag?  (Or damage to one of the ears
consistent with a tag being ripped off?)



Hope this helps.



Colin Higgins

Resource Management Technician

Ministry of Natural Resources

Peterborough District Office

300 Water Street, 1st Floor South Tower

Peterborough, ON  K9J 8M5

Phone: (705) 755-3301

Fax: (705) 755-3125

Email: colin.higgins@mnr.gov.on.ca