Fish Contamination With PCBs --- Cause for Concern?

Industry lobbyists and tourism advocates say there's not enough proof to justify concerns that PCBs in Great Lakes fish will harm humans. But please consider the following:

• For 60 years, PCB manufacturer Monsanto withheld scientific studies showing serious human health risks. Monsanto is now under legal investigation.
  
• Monsanto, and industries which used PCBs, down-played risks for years.
  
• No epidemiological study has been done on Great Lakes fishermen to study the link of PCBs and disease --- therefore, it's not surprising we have no direct evidence of fish-eating hurting fishermen. Such evidence is rare for any environmental pollutant. (Case in point: the Tobacco Industry still claims tobacco is safe.)
  
• A scientific study of children of Lake Michigan fish-eaters shows low birth weight, small head circumference and sluggish behavioral responses. Seven year follow-up studies show lingering learning deficits in children with greatest fish-eating exposure.
• Lab experiments with primates, animals, birds and fish show serious health effects from PCBs and other fish contaminants.
  
• More than 16 species of Great Lakes fish-eating wildlife (mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, & birds) show serious health effects. Human physiology isn't all that different.
• Human exposures from workplaces, accidents, and food poisoning incidents show strong
• correlations between PCB exposure and serious health effects.
  
• Fish-eating is a major source of toxic pollution exposure for people in the Great Lakes Region --- much more serious than air or drinking water exposure --- because fish
• concentrate the toxics to millions of times the background levels.
  
• Great Lakes fish contain hundreds of chemicals, many known toxics and others of unknown risks. PCBs aren't the whole picture. People face many risks from fish-eating.
  
• Recent studies link chemical exposures (PCBs, dioxin, and others) with hormonal disruption --- explaining the range of effects seen in Great Lakes wildlife and humans.
  
• Liver cancer increased 87% in U.S. humans in the last 40 years. Most PCBs were dumped into the environment within the last 40 years. PCBs cause liver cancer in animals. Nevertheless, it's nearly impossible to prove or disprove a link --- we don't experiment on people.
  
• Preventive health care is more cost-effective and morally defensible. Considering the weight of evidence --- people must be warned not to eat contaminated fish.

Information provided by Clean Water Action Council of NE Wis., 2220 Deckner Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54302. Phone: 414-468-4243. Fax: 414-468-1234 e-mail: cwac@execpc.com