Chemical pollution can harm aquatic ecosystems and negatively impact habitats and biodiversity throughout the Great Lakes. Some chemicals are persistent and can bioaccumulate in the food web, exposing humans to potentially harmful chemicals through fish consumption.
In 2016, Canada and the U.S. designated the following eight chemicals as the first set of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMC) under the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA):
Any chemical nominated as a CMC will be reviewed according to the Binational Screening Criteria for Nominated CMCs, developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to provide a consistent framework for reviewing nominated CMCs under the GLWQA.
Through the Chemicals of Mutual Concern Annex of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States have committed to:
“… contribute to the achievement of the General and Specific Objectives of this Agreement by protecting human health and the environment through cooperative and coordinated measures to reduce the anthropogenic release of chemicals of mutual concern into the Waters of the Great Lakes.”
Canada and the United States agree to:
For additional information on the focus of actions under this Annex, consult the current Priorities for Science and Action. The Priorities are based on an evaluation of the State of the Great Lakes, with input from the Great Lakes Executive Committee, participants at the Great Lakes Public Forum, and recommendations of the International Joint Commission.
Every six months, progress on this annex is reported at the Great Lakes Executive Committee meetings. Accomplishments will be described in the Progress Report of the Parties every three years.
This annex is implemented by a sub-committee co-led by ECCC and the USEPA. Organizations represented include:
The sub-committee is supported by an extended sub-committee that involves additional organizations and experts beyond the GLEC membership. As required, time-limited task teams will focus efforts on a priority issue or project, and will be disbanded when work is complete.