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High Levels of Toxic PCBs Found in Rio Grande Fish

Posted on: Monday, 6 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By JOHN ARNOLD Journal Staff Writer

Some of the Rio Grande fish contamination levels that prompted a do-not-eat advisory from state officials this week were eight times federal consumption limits, according to a four-year study.

The state Environment and Health departments and other agencies issued catfish and carp consumption advisories Thursday for fish taken from Cochiti and Abiquiu reservoirs and sections of the Rio Grande.

Tissue samples showed elevated levels of cancer-causing industrial chemicals known as PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls. The chemicals haven't been manufactured since 1977, but they were once used in electrical and heating equipment, hydraulic fluids, solvents, plasticizers and many other commercial applications.

The state Environment Department and Los Alamos National Laboratory collaborated on a four-year PCB study, completed in 2004, after the state recorded high PCB readings in storm water at LANL.

The 2004 study found high PCB levels in fish both downstream and upstream from the laboratory.

As part of the research, the lab took samples from synthetic fish fat placed upstream and downstream from the lab, in an effort to eliminate the variable of fish movement. Concentrations of PCBs found in live fish and the synthetic tissue were similar, according to LANL spokesman James Rickman.

"Because the lab used PCBs, it probably is a contributor, but certainly not the sole contributor or even necessarily the largest contributor," Rickman said. "PCB sources are all over, upstream and downstream."

According to Environment Department figures, two carp -- one taken from above Otowi Bridge and upstream from LANL and another taken from below the bridge and downstream -- showed PCB levels at 9.8 and 9.6 parts per trillion, above the Environmental Protection Agency standard of 1.2 parts per trillion.

The average reading for eight carp taken from near Otowi Bridge was 3.3 parts per trillion. Catfish upstream from the bridge also exceeded the federal standard, with a reading of 1.5 parts per trillion. And catfish taken from the reservoirs -- two from Abiquiu and two from Cochiti -- showed levels of 1.9 and 1.5, respectively.

State officials acknowledged when the study was released in 2004 that the levels might warrant fish consumption advisories. But state Environment Department spokesman Adam Rankin said Friday that the department hesitated to issue the warnings until now, because so few fish were tested. Environment Department officials were hoping to receive funding to conduct more tests.

"The funding was never available," Rankin said. "It just never happened."

After realizing that hopedfor funding wouldn't be immediately available, state officials decided to issue advisories, Rankin said. The department has received federal funding to do more extensive testing in the coming months.

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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