Dozens of lighthouses in Newfoundland and Labrador that the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has deemed surplus are either confirmed or believed to be contaminated.

On Tuesday, the federal government announced that 976 of the country’s lighthouses were no longer needed. Canadian Coast Guard officials said they've determined there are more cost effective ways to operate and maintain them.

A CBC News investigation of a federal lighthouse database revealed that 32 of the province's 45 lighthouses on the surplus list are contaminated.