This problem would be more widespread and severe if it were left up to Republicans and Libertarians.http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx
9 Jan 2013
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Michael Hall Brunswick News
The Glynn Environmental Coalition began warning people in the 1990s about chemicals found in fish caught in rivers and creeks around Brunswick.
At the time, the environmental watchdog posted signs on its own to inform anglers about pollution that could be ingested by eating fish from contaminated areas, said Daniel Parshley, project manager for the coalition.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources removed the signs, though not for long. “First the DNR took them all down. Then it was DNR putting them up,” Parshley said.
Today, the warnings, known as seafood consumption advisories issued by the DNR, are in effect for Turtle River, Buffalo River, Academy Creek, Purvis Creek, Gibson Creek, Turtle Creek and Dupree Creek in Glynn County.
Most of the problems are the results of industrial operations along the creeks and rivers, Parshley said.
While monitoring contaminated wastewater discharge from those operations has been improved and pollution levels have diminished in many waterways, old chemicals in the waters continue to pose a threat, he said.
“There are some chemicals that break down quickly. There are others that don’t,” he said. “We are now dealing with the ones that don’t.”
Even if a creek or river is tested as having diminished levels of potentially dangerous pollutants, such as PCB, mercury or waste from pesticide manufacturing, those same pollutants can build up again when rain washes them from the soil and into the water, Parshley said.
He suggests buying only seafood that can be traced to its source.
The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service offers even more advice on which seafood to eat and when.
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