Toxic waste has contributed to the problems in the St. Lawrence River in many ways.
There are always going to be problems in water systems such as rivers, however, the attention that the St. Lawrence River system is turning people of the Quebec government’s heads. It seems there are many serious issues with the health of the animal, plant, and even human life living around that area.
Health of Beluga
Affects on fishing and farming
Other problems occurring are that many native and non- native people have been loosing their jobs due to the negative impact of the St. Lawrence water pollution on fishing and even on farming, possibly because it was unsafe to irrigate directly from the river.
http://www.tuscaroras.com/graydeer/pages/Toxicturtle4.htm
Affects on Government
Because governments have to spend so many of their resources on political activities (national, state, provincial) fewer resources are available to take action in cleaning the river. Pollution from one country effects the other in negative ways and governments have to use a lot of resources to analyze and correct these problems.
http://www.ijc.org/comm/6bre.html
Figure 1.2: (St-Lawrence River at Seaway International Bridge in Cornwall, ON)