Fraser River sockeye face chemical soup of 200 contaminants
“These. . .results suggest that PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs could be adversely affecting sockeye salmon reproduction,” states the report.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of dioxins typically formed through combustion, such as in commercial or municipal waste incineration and from burning fuels.
The study said selenium, a naturally occurring chemical element that can cause contamination when released in volume in wastewater, and another dioxin, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), were also found in sockeye eggs, representing “a potentially important factor influencing the status of sockeye salmon populations.”
The report said data on the bioaccumulation of toxic substances were limited and need further evaluation.
