SAEHP: Plants Study

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has heard concerns from the Aamjiwnaang community regarding the consumption and use of local medicinal plants. The Plants Study aims to assess chemicals in locally grown medicinal plants and compared with medicinal plants grown in a neighboring community. The Plant Study will include a review of chemicals in air that would most likely be taken up by plants.

The ministry has worked to compile and review existing information from relevant studies conducted in the Sarnia area. These were used to inform the Plants Study design, in order to better address the concerns of the community.

The Plant Study is led by an academic team from Toronto Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Aamjiwnaang First Nation. The ministry worked with the Aamjiwnaang environment and health departments, Toronto Metropolitan University and Health Canada to develop the Plant Study. Feedback and input on the Plants Study were collected during community engagement meetings.

The same species of plants were collected from the Aamjiwnaang community, and from a neighboring community. The plants are being compared with one another to assess the levels of particulate pollutants found in the two locations.

In late summer of 2020, a scouting survey was conducted to identify samples growing in Aamjiwnaang First Nation and a potential comparative community. The traditional medicinal plants species included in the final assessment were determined and informed by the participating communities.

Sampling of plants and soil was completed in 2021.

Chemical analysis was undertaken by a private lab and the data is being reviewed by the Toronto Metropolitan University academic team and participating communities.

Updates on the progress of the Plants Study will be shared during community meetings. Click here to view meeting materials.

If you have any questions or feedback on this component of the project, please contact: SAEHP@ontario.ca