Local politics, the county, and the world, as viewed by Tammy Maygra
Tammy’s views are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bill Eagle, his pastor, Tammy’s neighbors, Earl Fisher, Betsy Johnson, Joe Corsiglia, Rita Bernhard, her grand kids, Tony Hyde, Pat Robertson,Debi Corsiglia’s dog, or Claudia Eagle’s Cats. This Tammy’s Take (with the exception of this disclaimer) is not paid for or written by, or reviewed by anyone but Tammy and she won’t take crap off of anyone.
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Standard Disclaimer.
The Lower Columbia River looks beautiful.
Beauty can be deceiving.
What is hidden in and around these waters?
Contamination in the Lower Columbia River can be attributed to PCB’s PAH’s and pesticides, these toxins are found in the water, sediment, fish, and wildlife that lives along the river. The contamination is also incurring in other species that ingest fish from the waterway. River otters have been reported to have a large amount of PCB accumulation that far exceeded the safe or acceptable limits and also displayed abnormalities in their reproductive system. Bald eagles had DDE and PCB, s in their systems at levels critical enough to impair their reproduction. Arsenic, a human carcinogen, surpassed the US EPA water quality standards for protection of human health.
It is no surprise that sediment contamination was highest near urban and industrial areas, with contamination in excess of levels of concern for DDE (a breakdown product of DDT), PCBs, dioxins and PAHs. Few people understand or even realize the implications that these contaminates do to the environment or to living beings.
For example; the amount of riparian habitat and tidal swamps and marshes has decreased by as much as 75 percent from historical levels. Beneficial uses such as fishing, shell fishing, wildlife, and water sports have been impaired. A study done investigating this contamination problem concluded that people who eat fish from the lower Columbia over a long period of time are exposed to health risks from arsenic, PCBs, dioxins and furans, and DDT and its breakdown products
Most studies center around juvenile salmon and the effect the toxins have on their system and their ability or not to be able to live a healthy life and reproduce, and to be part of the food chain without causing disease and ill effects to the next species up on the food chain list. What is most important here is not only are the salmon in danger of experiencing adverse effects of toxins but all other aquatic and mammals as well.
Toxic contaminants are pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and other pesticides that had been used in the past five decades, current use pesticides, pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), trace elements, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, (PBDEs, or flame retardants)
Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are stable, flame-resistant chemicals that were manufactured for use in consumer products (lubricants, paints, pesticides, etc.) and as insulators and cooling compounds in electrical equipment. They come in 209 different forms, or congeners, which vary in their degree of toxicity and carcinogenicity. The most toxic PCBs are structurally similar to dioxins. PCBs do not degrade readily or dissolve in water. Instead, they tend to accumulate in sediments and the body fat of living organisms.
DDT is a persistent organochlorine pesticide that was widely used for decades to control agricultural pests and mosquitoes that carried diseases such as typhus and malaria. DDT is a would-be human carcinogen, and its breakdown products—DDE and DDD—also have toxic effects. DDT is an inherited pesticide, meaning that it is still found in the environment even though it was banned in 1972 because of its toxic effects on fish, wildlife, and people. Inherited pesticides resist dissolving in water. Instead, they adhere to soil and sediment, where they can remain for years. They bio-accumulate readily and can move up the food chain.
Aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane are examples of other inherited pesticides. Aldrin and dieldrin are chlorinated insecticides developed in the 1940s as an alternative to DDT. They were widely used to control termites and other soil insects until they were banned in 1987. Aldrin breaks down quickly into dieldrin, which is persistent and bioaccumulates. When exposed to sunlight, dieldrin can transform into photodieldrin, a more toxic compound.
Chlordane is a mixture of related chemicals that was used on food crops and for termite control in the United States until it was phased out between 1978 and 1988. Chlordane bio accumulates without any problems, and is commonly found in human body fat, and can affect the liver, nervous system, and digestive system. It is still manufactured for export.
Organophosphate, carbamate, triazine, and urea pesticides are commonly used in agriculture and horticulture and on lawns and gardens. They are water-soluble, meaning that they dissolve in water and are readily taken up by organisms.
Lindane, known also as γ-hexachlorocyclohexane or HCH, is an organochlorine pesticide that currently is used to control wood-inhabiting beetles and to treat people for fleas, lice, and scabies. Lindane recently was banned for use in agriculture because it is a suspected carcinogen, but pharmaceutical use is still allowed. Lindane is moderately water soluble and can accumulate in sediment.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are widespread organic contaminants that are released through the burning or spill of gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products. PAHs are used in manufacturing dyes, insecticides, and solvents, and they are a constituent of the creosote found in railroad ties and marine pilings. PAHs often attach to soil and sediment. They bio-accumulate in invertebrates but are metabolized by fish, birds, wildlife, and people. Because of the way they are processed in species systems some metabolites can be more harmful than the original compounds and can generate mutations, be carcinogenic, or cause cell death.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are man-made flame retardants used in plastics, cushions, and fabrics. Chemically, PBDEs are similar to PCBs. PBDEs come in 209 different forms.
Penta-BDE—Are in insulation and in foam for furniture, mattresses, and automobile seats; more toxic than the octa and deca mixtures.
Octa-BDE—are in high-impact plastic products, including computer housings, kitchen appliance casings, and telephone handsets.
Deca-BDE—most universally used. Present in carpets, drapes, non-clothing fabrics, and the plastic found in televisions, computers, stereos, and other electronics; less toxic than penta or octa mixtures, but break down in the environment into more toxic and bio-accumulative forms. PBDEs are tenacious, toxic, and do not dissolve easily in water. Instead, they tend to collect in soil, sediment, household dust, and sewage. They have been identified in fish, wildlife, and people.
Production of penta- and octa-BDEs was phased out in North America and Europe by 2004, but deca is still widely used. In 2007, Washington passed legislation to ban the use of deca in mattresses, televisions, computers, and residential upholstered furniture by 2011.
As people travel along the Columbia River and admire the rivers endless magnificence and beauty it never comes to mind that the river and surrounding area along with the visible and not so visible wildlife are contaminated with horrible toxins, which are impairing their very life and possibly the species future. Just because you cannot see the toxins does not mean they do not exist.
Humans should be made aware of what is being manufactured and what the ingredients are. We should be proactive to put a stop to toxin chemical production. The life we saved could very well be our own.
TAMMY
