Canada’s Great Lakes Strategy for PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs Risk Management

Posted: March 24, 2022
Herring gull eggs
Photo: Herring gull eggs, Great Lakes Herring Gull Monitoring Program. Credit: Shane de Solla.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare and issue binational strategies for Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs), which may include research, monitoring, surveillance, and pollution prevention and control provisions. Canada’s Great Lakes Strategy for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), and Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (LC-PFCAs) Risk Management is comprised of 16 management actions to address threats to the Great Lakes by reducing the release of PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs to the Great Lakes basin. While some management actions are being undertaken by Canadian governments, other actions can be considered by a variety of stakeholders, including industry, academia, and non-government organizations.

More information on the Chemicals of Mutual Concern can be found at: Canada and the United States Designate the First Set of Chemicals of Mutual Concern.