A Million and Counting: PCBs Still Plague Montana Fish Hatchery
Mary Anne Simpson
March 15, 2007
According to the Great Falls Tribune in Montana, the million dollar clean up of PCBs in the Lewistown fishery system still needs further work. PCBs were found some years ago in the region due to paint laced with PCB material.
The Montana Fish Wild life and Park's system along with various conservation groups and under the auspices of the EPA began a heroic effort to remove the toxic paint and make corrections in the fishery by placing plastic liners in the channels. The work appeared to reduce the level of the PCBs in the fish, but recent testing has revealed PCBs in the fish excrement.
The recent findings baffle the officials of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Department. A department spokesman, Don Skaar is quoted as saying, "We are pretty dumbfounded to be honest," according to the Great Falls Tribune. While the overall content of the 10,000 pounds of fish excrement has not reached the threshold of being "hazardous waste," which requires expensive special handling, the waste will need to be dumped at a land fill North of Great Falls.
PCBs have been noted by various experts in the field of toxic substances as creating harmful effects for workers exposed on a regular basis and by the general public consuming food with high levels of PCB. The problem with the man made toxic PCB is that while some PCBs are excreted, some live on in the host indefinitely.
Certain health conditions like Parkinson's Disease, Melanoma cancer, liver cancer and other forms of neurological disorders have been found to be linked to high levels of PCBs. In addition other toxins like arsenic and mercury either indigenous to the area or man introduced in combination with the PCBs is a health risk for humans early child brain development, leukemia and a range of health issues.
The National Institute of Safety and Health a division of the Center of Disease Control has conducted various studies on the harmful effects of PCB contamination and worker health in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and concluded there are health risk.
The effected Rainbow Trout industry in Montana is a multi-million dollar enterprise. The Lewistown hatchery stocks various fishing reservoirs around the state and will of course be watching these develops closely. Fishing is a primary tourist attraction in Montana. Many streams and open fishing areas are not effected by this problem in the Lewistown hatchery.
Additional Resources:
GreenFacts.org
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pgms/worknotify/PCB2.html#a
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703040303
The Montana Fish Wild life and Park's system along with various conservation groups and under the auspices of the EPA began a heroic effort to remove the toxic paint and make corrections in the fishery by placing plastic liners in the channels. The work appeared to reduce the level of the PCBs in the fish, but recent testing has revealed PCBs in the fish excrement.
The recent findings baffle the officials of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Department. A department spokesman, Don Skaar is quoted as saying, "We are pretty dumbfounded to be honest," according to the Great Falls Tribune. While the overall content of the 10,000 pounds of fish excrement has not reached the threshold of being "hazardous waste," which requires expensive special handling, the waste will need to be dumped at a land fill North of Great Falls.
PCBs have been noted by various experts in the field of toxic substances as creating harmful effects for workers exposed on a regular basis and by the general public consuming food with high levels of PCB. The problem with the man made toxic PCB is that while some PCBs are excreted, some live on in the host indefinitely.
Certain health conditions like Parkinson's Disease, Melanoma cancer, liver cancer and other forms of neurological disorders have been found to be linked to high levels of PCBs. In addition other toxins like arsenic and mercury either indigenous to the area or man introduced in combination with the PCBs is a health risk for humans early child brain development, leukemia and a range of health issues.
The National Institute of Safety and Health a division of the Center of Disease Control has conducted various studies on the harmful effects of PCB contamination and worker health in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and concluded there are health risk.
The effected Rainbow Trout industry in Montana is a multi-million dollar enterprise. The Lewistown hatchery stocks various fishing reservoirs around the state and will of course be watching these develops closely. Fishing is a primary tourist attraction in Montana. Many streams and open fishing areas are not effected by this problem in the Lewistown hatchery.
Additional Resources:
GreenFacts.org
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pgms/worknotify/PCB2.html#a
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703040303
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