Post by Logan on Apr 10, 2016 20:22:19 GMT -6
Spokane River getting healthier, but controversy over discharge limits remains
The Spokane River’s health is improving, say Washington state officials, who are touting declines in cancer-causing PCBs as a promising trend in reducing toxic pollution in the river.
Most of the river met state standards for polychlorinated biphenyls during late-summer monitoring in 2014 and 2015, according to the state Department of Ecology. The water sampling was done during low-flow conditions, when concentrations of the long-lived industrial pollutant would have been the highest, said Adriane Borgias, a water quality specialist for the agency.
But whether Spokane River fish are getting safer to eat remains an open question.
“Are we seeing a decrease in PCBs in fish tissue? Maybe,” Borgias said. “We’re seeing something, but it’s not statistically significant at this point.”
Read more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/apr/10/spokane-river-getting-healthier-but-controversy-ov/
The Spokane River’s health is improving, say Washington state officials, who are touting declines in cancer-causing PCBs as a promising trend in reducing toxic pollution in the river.
Most of the river met state standards for polychlorinated biphenyls during late-summer monitoring in 2014 and 2015, according to the state Department of Ecology. The water sampling was done during low-flow conditions, when concentrations of the long-lived industrial pollutant would have been the highest, said Adriane Borgias, a water quality specialist for the agency.
But whether Spokane River fish are getting safer to eat remains an open question.
“Are we seeing a decrease in PCBs in fish tissue? Maybe,” Borgias said. “We’re seeing something, but it’s not statistically significant at this point.”
Read more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/apr/10/spokane-river-getting-healthier-but-controversy-ov/