The DWR posted some results for carp contamination with PCB's from Utah Lake in May and they said they would also test other fish. The tests were to take about 2 months. I haven't heard anything which I presume means nothing bad showed up. Does anyone have the results or a report of the tests. Tubedude, have you heard anything?
It seems to me with the high levels of mercury they have found in the Great Salt Lake they would also test Utah Lake for mercury, or has that been done?
Bowcutt
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[cool][#0000ff]I have been trying to keep in the loop on this one, but so far nobody seems to have any definitive results. It is almost universally believed that all fish in Utah Lake have PCB in them, but to varying degrees. It is in the mud and therefore the water. If is is in the water then the microorganisms and zooplankton eat it and retain it. That means that any small fish in the lake that feeds on plants, zooplankton or other small organisms also takes in and stores the PCB. Ultimately, all of the predators eat the other species and further absorb and concentrate the chemicals in their fatty tissues.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good news/bad news thing is that there does not seem to be any clear cut evidence of PCB causing any verifiable health problems with those who ingest fish containing PCB. Nothing like methyl mercury, which does have some nasty and verifiable consequences. Studies are still being conducted but so far there are not any mad scientists waving bubbling flasks and screaming about the hazards of PCBs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A couple of things I have been told, that are of a more positive nature, are that the PCBs in fish can be reduced or minimized by the way you cook them. Deep frying tends to leach out the PCBs from the fatty tissues of the fish, where the PCBs concentrate. Also, smoking the fish for a long time also eliminates a lot of oil from fish like catfish and thereby reduces the PCB levels too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like many Utahns, I have eaten a lot of fish from Utah Lake over the years and (other than that third eye), I have never had any health problems. Disgustingly healthy. I know anglers who have eaten fish from Utah lake a couple of times a week for decades with never a medical malfunction. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Nobody likes to eat contaminated food, and the thought of swallowing a nasty chemical from a broken electrical transformer is certainly unappealing. The current reality seems to be that there is no need to become a vegetarian or to completely eliminate Utah Lake fish from one's diet. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am not saying go load up on bullheads and chow down. I'm just saying that "school is still out", but the report card is more favorable than unfavorable at this point.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Has anyone else heard anything more?[/#0000ff]
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I looked up a report on google and still need to find the link, but it gave pcb levels for all of the species, but said they were going to retest to confirm. From what I read the only fish that had levels to cause any concern at all were the carp and bullheads. The bull heads were in the safe range, but were the highest of the safe range fish. White bass were next followed by walleye and then channel cat if I remember right (channel cat and walleye may have been switched). I am not sure when the report was taken though and will have to find it again and post it,
jed
ok I found it here is the one I read it is an older report sept 2005 but may be an interesting read for those who can decipher scientific research papers (no insults intended to anyone)
[url "http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Ngdrz99zjUMJ:www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHA/Utah%2520Lake/UtahLakeHCFinal090705.pdf+pcb+levels+in+utah+lake&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4"]http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Ngdrz99zjUMJ:www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/PHA/Utah%2520Lake/UtahLakeHCFinal090705.pdf+pcb+levels+in+utah+lake&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4[/url]
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Thanks for the info, it will be nice to get the results of followup testing.
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