There are no plans to put up signs warning residents of contamination in lakes around Yellowknife, according to an updated arsenic advisory the Department of Health and Social Services issued Tuesday.

SA国际影视传媒淔rom what weSA国际影视传媒檝e heard from our partners, signs are expensive to put up,SA国际影视传媒� said Dr. Andre Corriveau, the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 chief public health officer. SA国际影视传媒淭hey get defaced or vandalized or they just fall over in time.SA国际影视传媒�

The governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 focus is instead to ensure information is accessible for residents and tourists online, at the visitors centre or where people get fishing licences, according to Corriveau.

The Northern Frontier Visitors Centre closed May 15 and visitor services currently offered at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre are expected to end Oct. 1.

SA国际影视传媒淚f the city or somebody else wanted to put a sign SA国际影视传媒� we would help them,SA国际影视传媒� said Corriveau. SA国际影视传媒淏ut at this point weSA国际影视传媒檙e not aware of anyone wanting to put signs.SA国际影视传媒�

Last year, Yellowknifer reported the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment planned to work with the city to erect signs informing residents about arsenic, such as at ProspectorSA国际影视传媒檚 Trail at Fred Henne Territorial Park.

When Yellowknifer requested this week to follow-up on the statement, the city and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment redirected the paper to the Department of Health and Social Services.

Health and Social Services confirmed the signs had been put up.

Neither the city nor GNWT answered a question about which government would be responsible for erecting signs, were they to be put up.

City councillor Adrian Bell said heSA国际影视传媒檇 be in favour of having signs at lakes, but would want to make sure theySA国际影视传媒檙e consistent and done properly.

He added there is a cross-jurisdictional issue with who should put the signs up, SA国际影视传媒渟o itSA国际影视传媒檚 a matter of figuring out who does it.SA国际影视传媒�

Coun. Niels Konge disagrees with putting up signs.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is more of a perceived issue than it is a real issue,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding it is SA国际影视传媒渞idiculousSA国际影视传媒� that people think there should be signs for everything. SA国际影视传媒淎t some point people need to take the initiative to educate themselves and take care of their own well-being ... Certain things, absolutely, governments need to be involved, but I think weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting down into the weeds at this point.SA国际影视传媒�

TuesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 updated health advisory comes after a similar one issued this April relied on a nearly 30-year-old study to show Kam Lake had elevated arsenic levels more than 50 times above Health CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 safe drinking water guidelines.

The new advisory shows the lakeSA国际影视传媒檚 arsenic concentration is much lower than previously thought, although still above the safe drinking water guideline.

New testing done this spring by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources found the lakeSA国际影视传媒檚 arsenic concentration was 240 parts per billion SA国际影视传媒� 24 times higher than the safe drinking water guideline of less than 10 parts per billion.

The advisory recommends residents avoid drinking water from, swimming in, fishing in, and harvesting berries, mushrooms or edible plants around lakes with an arsenic concentration above 52 parts per billion. Residents should not drink the water or eat sediment from those lakes, or catch and release fish there, either.

According to Corriveau, arsenic is a neurotoxin that can cause certain forms of cancer, although health effects from exposure are typically seen over a longer period of time.

He said one-time exposure to lakes with elevated arsenic levels is unlikely to cause SA国际影视传媒渁cute side effects,SA国际影视传媒� but regular exposure could be a cause for concern.

He added a study that will gather better data on human health impacts is in the works. There is also research underway on fish health.

SA国际影视传媒淧art of the advice is precautionary because we either donSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough data to be precise with regard to fish, for example, or berries,SA国际影视传媒� said Corriveau. SA国际影视传媒淏ut I think SA国际影视传媒� the lakes being used on a regular basis for recreation are not the ones that are at high levels (of arsenic).SA国际影视传媒�

Other changes in this weekSA国际影视传媒檚 health advisory include Grace Lake, which moved outside the safe drinking water guideline of less than 10 parts per billion. The environment departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 spring testing showed Grace LakeSA国际影视传媒檚 arsenic concentration was 15 parts per billion, but the advisory states lakes at this level are still safe for swimming and fishing.

A few small lakes near Con Mine were also added to this monthSA国际影视传媒檚 health advisory.

Keg Lake is marked with a yellow dot on the map, indicating its arsenic concentration ranges between 10 to 51.9 parts per billion.

Peg Lake is marked purple for more than 500 parts per billion, while another, unnamed lake is coded orange, meaning it has an arsenic concentration between 52 and 99.9 parts per billion.

Rat Lake is also on the advisory, at 52 to 99.9 parts per billion of dissolved arsenic.

Corriveau said the advisory will be updated when new information is available.