Posts Tagged ‘ toxics ’

Unsafe To Eat? EPA Finds Widespread Contamination In Fish

November 10, 2009
By
Crater Lake, one of 500 lakes in the study. Photo by Dennis Newman

Crater Lake, one of 500 lakes in the study. Photo by Dennis Newman

Here’s an argument for catch-and-release.

A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency is raising questions about the safety of fish caught in America’s lakes and reservoirs. The study looked at fish in 500 lakes across the country, including nine here in Oregon.

What the agency found is that it’s just about impossible to catch a fish that doesn’t have at least some mercury or PCBs. Dioxins and furans were also found in most fish.

But are they safe to eat?

That of course varies greatly depending on where you’re fishing and often how you eat what you catch.

Some more results from the study:

Mercury: The study found “potentially harmful” levels of mercury in fish at 49% of the lakes in the study. Mercury gets into the food chain from the burning of fossil fuels, usually coal.

PCBs: 17% of the lakes studied had fish with unhealthy levels of PCBs, a class of chemicals that can cause cancer.

Dioxins and furans: While at least 8 out of 10 fish in the study had at least some level of these chemicals, unhealthy amounts were found in fish at 8% of the lakes in the study.

Unfortunately, the EPA says its hard to draw conclusions about the safety of the fish caught here in Oregon. It says the sample sizes are too small to make any conclusions. But I’m trying to get data on what they found here.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Human Services does have a list of lakes and rivers with fish advisories. You can find that list here.

Making Schools Greener And Safer

April 9, 2009
By

Like many of our readers, you’re probably trying to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in your home. Maybe you’re using environmentally friendly soaps and cleaning products, and cutting back or even eliminating pesticides.

But when you’re kids go to school, things could be very different.

A recent report from the Oregon Toxics Alliance shows that pesticides, even those linked to cancer and learning disabilities, are “routinely used in and around Oregon’s schools.” Over a ten-year period, the group found 43 cases where kids were exposed to toxic pesticides at school. In a handful of cases, it was so bad that students or staff needed medical attention, or the school had to be evacuated.

The Alliance and other environmental groups are now trying to build support for two bills that would reduce the risks of toxic chemicals at schools. One requires all schools to follow procedures designed to reduce the use of pesticides. The other tells schools to start using cleaning products that are certified “green”.

Here’s a look at what’s being proposed.

Senate Bill 637 says all schools, private and public, will have to start using what’s called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The idea, says Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis of the Oregon Environmental Council, is to help schools “make smart choices and think about things before using that can of Raid.”

It starts with using non-toxic methods to control pests. That includes such things as keeping food off counter tops, plugging holes with caulk or steel wool, or putting wire mesh in front of vents and other openings. Hackenmiller-Paradis says it doesn’t make sense to “bomb everything” if you haven’t already removed the sources of food, water and shelter that the pests need to survive.

If those methods don’t work, then the law allows schools to use nontoxic or low-impact pesticides that are applied by a licensed worker.

“We’re not against pesticides,” says Hackenmiller-Paradis, explaining that pests can also cause health problems. She says IPM shows schools how to, “effectively manage pests in a way that minimizes the use of pesticides.”

IPM methods are already followed in some Oregon school districts including Portland, Eugene and Mapleton.

Senate Bill 668 is the companion bill that says all Oregon schools must adopt “green” cleaning policies. Mostly it requires schools to use products that are certified environmentally friendly by such groups as Eco-label and Green Seal. Hackenmiller-Paradis says most large cleaning companies already have a “green line” of products so it should be easy for schools to convert.

Both bills went before the Senate Education and General Government Committee last week with little opposition. No new hearings have been scheduled.

For more information, or to leave comments and learn how to take action, please follow the “Continue reading” link.

Read more »