|
1
|
Kumar N, Ramirez-Ortiz D, Solo-Gabriele HM, Treaster JB, Carrasquillo O, Toborek M, Deo S, Klaus J, Bachas LG, Whitall D, Daunert S, Szapocznik J. Environmental PCBs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico: implications for community health. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23:2003-2013. [PMID: 26122576 PMCID: PMC4698114 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4913-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Guánica Bay, located in southwestern Puerto Rico, has suffered oil spills and other pollution discharges since the 1960s. Previous research showed elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in coral reef and sediment. This research examined PCB concentrations in sediment and fish. Sediment and fish sampling in the bay was facilitated by community members. This study identified the second highest reported PCB level (129,300 ng/g) in sediment in the USA. Fish samples also showed elevated concentrations (1623 to 3768 ng/g), which were higher than the thresholds of safe levels of PCBs in fish for human consumption. The alarmingly high concentration of PCBs calls for proactive community engagement to bring awareness about contamination of the bay and more extensive sampling to test for the concentration of PCBs in seafood and the people of Guánica. This study also underscores the value of the involvement of local communities during sampling design aimed at identifying hot spots of contaminants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Kumar
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| | - Daisy Ramirez-Ortiz
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Helena M Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Joseph B Treaster
- School of Communication, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Olveen Carrasquillo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- General Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Michal Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Sapna Deo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jim Klaus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | | | - David Whitall
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jose Szapocznik
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| |
Collapse
|