Environmental Impacts and Health Risks of DDT
DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) move from contaminated sediments into the water, so although the dumping of DDT stopped in 1983, the PVS remains contaminated DDT and PCBs enter the food chain through worms and micro-organisms living in the sediment. One fish may eat many of these organisms, causing the DDT and PCBs to accumulate in fish tissue. Fish-eating birds, marine mammals and birds of prey that feed on both, accumulate more of the toxins. Since 1985, fish consumption advisories and health warnings have been posted in southern California because of elevated DDT and PCB levels. Bottom-feeding fish are particularly at risk for high contamination levels. Consumption of white croaker, which has the highest contamination levels, should be avoided. Other bottom-feeding fish, including kelp bass, rockfish, queenfish, black croaker, sheepshead, surfperches and sculpin, are also highly contaminated.
The effects of DDT differ depending on the organism it infects. Bald eagles on Santa Catalina Island are unable to reproduce because the DDT causes their eggshells to become too thin and to break open before the eaglet is fully developed. For people, DDT and PCBs can increase cancer risks, harm the liver and affect the central nervous system. Nursing infants whose mothers regularly consume the fish are at especially high risk. As a part of the Superfund project, the EPA is looking to reinforce the commercial and recreational fishing ban on white croaker.
In October 1989, the former Montrose Chemical site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).
In 1990, the United States and the State of California filed lawsuits against Montrose Chemical and nine other facilities near the Palos Verdes peninsula, citing damages to the nearby marine environment.
Read more about this topic: Montrose Chemical Corporation Of California
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