San Francisco Bay Fish contains “forever chemicals” that could harm the fishermen- calm

From Rachel BeckerCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

Pollutants, known as “forever chemicals,” were found in the fish of San Francisco Bay at levels that could pose a threat to the health for people who eat fish caught there, according to new studies published today.

Associated with a number of health conditions such as cancers, heart disease and pregnancy disorders, and polyfluoroalkile substances Resist the disintegration in the environment. Used by industries for the preparation of waterproof coatings, firefighters, food packs and more, These chemicals are polluted people and animals everywhere all over the world including NewbornS

Researchers at the San Francisco Institute have discovered chemicals in striped bass, Largemut Bass, Leopard Shark, White Crocker, White Sturgery and other fish gathered between 2009 and 2019 in San Francisco Bay.

Fishermen for relaxation and livelihood catch striped bass and other fish from boats, shores or quays, but they are not sold on the commercial network. Many Asian immigrants, other color and low income People catch fish in the bay to feed their familiesS

California has put in health consultations on other fish pollutants, but not for these “forever chemicals”. On the basis of Massachusetts – The largest in the country – 83% of the tested fish are considered dangerous to eat daily, and one -third of the fish would not be safe to eat even in quantities of half a kilogram a week, the researchers said.

The chemicals penetrate the soil and are washed in waterways flowing into the bay of landfills, airports, industrial sites, military bases and treatment plants.

“Throughout the coastline of San Francisco Bay, especially along the Curkinesses, we see how many polluting industries there are. Still, people still catch fishing there and due to finance, many people eat this fish,” says Ladona Williams, Program Director of the Bay Based in the area of ​​ecological justice, All possible positivesS “Do you just close your eyes and pray over your food? … This is the devil of the decision you need to make.”

The findings published in Scientific Journal ES&T Water, Build In the case of more reports that “forever chemicals” are Among the cocktail of contaminants in the Bay of San Francisco.

Chemicals probably pollute ocean fish throughout California, but no state studies have been conducted.

“We already know that (these chemicals) are affecting all of us,” Miguel Mendes, an environmental scientist who co -authored the study, said in a press release. “But we also know that there are many communities in the bay that fish, and many of these communities, tend to be insufficiently represented and more marginalized in the bay.”

Civil servants already have Published signs in San Francisco Bay cay to warn people to limit or avoid consuming a particular fish due to other pollutants, including Mercury, a powerful neurotoxin it’s The legacy of the gold tideS

Rebecca Sutton, managing a senior scientist at the San Francisco Institute and author of the study, said these warnings were probably protective of “forever chemicals”.

But fisheries and environmental groups say that California should determine guidelines on what chemical levels are dangerous, which will determine the tips on how many people can eat.

Wesley SmithA senior toxicologist at the California Service for Evaluation of Environmental Health Dangers, told Calmatters that the agency is developing guidelines for perfluorctane sulfonic acid known as PFOS, although there is still no time line.

About 91% of the San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay samples were tested with the most modern methods containing PFOS used in some upholstery, carpets, cookware and fire foams in the early 40s. It was Gradually transmitted to the United States in the early 2000s Due to potential effects on health.

Smith said that other countries that take early action may have been concerned about the high levels found in some areas. “We are in a better position to move forward in California,” he said because of the work of other countries and the new analysis published today.

Smith advised people to follow the warning signs and eat smaller and younger fish to reduce their exposure.

The levels of chemicals in the fish of San Francisco Bay were similar to those found in seafrough in some other ports across the country, but generally smaller than freshwater fish caught in rivers, streams and lakes. The researchers tested the fish for 40 of the chemicals – a small part of this huge class – and found 20 in fish collected in 2009, 2014 and 2019.

Chris Shuts, CEO of the California Alliance for the Protection of Sports Fishing, said that, in addition to setting advice for these pollutants, civil servants should prevent them from entering the water first.

A law of legislature Author of State Senator Ben Allen, Democrat from El Segundo, will eliminate the sale of certain products that have some forever chemicals, deliberately added, such as ski wax, tooth thread, products for children, cookware and food packing. California has previously banned it defined tissues., cosmetics and Food packS

“These results also show how critical it is to eliminate the insignificant uses” and also “improve monitoring and limit how” it enters the waterways, Tasha Stoyber, a senior scientist from the environmental working group that has examined chemicals in freshwater fish, the email said.

The fish caught in the southern currents of the bay, from the city of Redwood to Milpasus and San Jose, were particularly contaminated – with over 80% exceeding the Massachusetts threshold for one meal per week, compared to 8% in other parts of the bay.

The tides did not flush well and treated the sewer that carry the chemicals in the southern bay, home to one of The most large wastewater treatment facilities to the west.

As an old “forever chemicals” are gradual, the new ones still expire in the environment. The research team has found a chemical that has never been documented in seafood.

Nobody knows how many people eat fish caught in the bay. Although nearly a quarter of a million fishing from Bay District bought fish licenses in California in 2024, no one had collected all the people who were fishing from coastlines, quays, accessories or destroyers – and there are no official number of people whose families would become hungry if they did not.

A 25-year study by the San Francisco Mountain Institute It reports that Asian men make up a higher share of the bay fishermen compared to demographic data in the region. Another study further up, reports southeastern Asians eaten the most fish caught in the deltafollowed by African American and Spanish fishermen, which were exposed to much higher levels of mercury than recommended.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.