Canada and US designate first set of chemicals of mutual concern for Great Lakes

Canada and the United States recently identified eight substances as chemicals of mutual concern under the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Following a comprehensive review, the first batch of chemicals to be designated "of mutual concern" are:

• hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD);
• polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs);
• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA);
• perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS);
• long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs);
• mercury;
• polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
• short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).

Once a chemical has been designated, Canada and the United States are bound to develop and implement strategies to address the chemical, reporting every three years on its status.