(c) Michael S. Nolan

Toxic Poisoning

The southern resident orcas are among the most heavily contaminated marine mammals in the world. Before awareness, changes in the law, scientific scrutiny and business practices changed, vast amounts of toxic waste from industry was dumped into the marine environment directly or into the rivers that run into it. There are at least 850 identified waste sites on land and in the water in Washington state.

For orcas and other marine mammals as well as countless creatures living in the rivers and coastal marine waters of Washington and SW British Columbia, this means continued exposure to poison. The toxic wastes still lie in sediment under the water and also remain in landfills that leach into the food chain of orcas and humans alike. These toxic substances are generally referred to PBT's (persistent, bioaccumulative toxics). Persistent means they are long-lived and continue doing damage decade after decade. Bioaccumulative means that the toxic chemicals become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. Toxic includes the chemical substances' abilities to cause cancer, birth defects, immune system dysfunction and countless other maladies. Orcas and humans are among the animals at the top.

Orca whales have toxic loads of many substances, including PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls). Studies indicate that the levels of toxic chemicals in the southern resident orca community, as well as the offshore populations of orca whales, is more than enough to impact their immune systems. This immunosuppression makes them unable to fight off even the smallest infection. It is also believed that reproductive success is also heavily impacted. Orca mothers die while giving birth. Orca calves - getting large amounts of toxic substances from their mother's milk - are at further risk.

It is believed that southern resident Orcas eat some species of bottomfish that feed in the polluted sediments and waters of Puget Sound. Any additional toxic chemical intake may mean the difference between life and extinction for these orcas.

Today there continue to be allowances for further PBT pollution discharges under state permits. This must be opposed. Agencies are under a great deal of pressure to respond to industry, even if it means compromising orca, salmon and human health. Government agencies are failing to adequately consider the total cumulative discharge and its effects on the marine environment.

 

Toxic Waste Sites: The Toxic Sixty-two

Toxic wastes come from many sources, including:

The Orca Recovery CAmpaign (ORCA) has identified the following toxic waste sites that need immediate attention to help save orca whales and their environment.

There are 93 identified toxic sediment sites in Puget Sound's marine environment. Of those 93, 17 sites have been cleaned up, 11 have not been started and 65 are in the clean-up process. However, "clean-up process" is highly misleading. Of those 65 sites in "process" 41% are in initial investigation, 25% are in remedial investigation, 16% are in the feasibility stage, 9% are in the design stage and only 9% are in the clean-up and monitoring stage. Why? There are a number of understandable bottlenecks to toxic waste cleanup. Too often, however, the reasons are unacceptable. Lack of money, agency staff and political importance must be challenged.

Six areas, Sixty-two sites
Here are the priority toxic sediment cleanup areas, each containing the stated number of sites.

What You Can Do About Toxic Poisoning
The Washington Department of Ecology estimates that completing the cleanup will cost between $241 million and $1.134 billion dollars, the intermediate estimate being $687 million. For an excellent summary of toxic waste cleanup of marine sediments in Washington State, go to the Washington Dept. of Ecology

Both the federal government and the state of Washington are co-managing cleanup of toxic waste sites. The Washington State agency responsible for cleanup is the Department of Ecology. The Department of Ecology is an executive administration of the Governor. Write a letter to Washington's Governor Locke:

Letters are best, but you can send an email to the Governor by going to: http://www.governor.wa.gov/. Send a copy of the letter to your state and federal elected representatives. To find out who they are and the addresses to use, go to: wsl.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/default.htm and wsl.leg.wa.gov/common/maps/congdist.htm. Outside of Washington state find your elected representatives at: http://www.house.gov/ and http://www.senate.gov/.

Make it a personal and polite letter in your own words. Here are some items to include:

Links for Info on Toxic Pollution

Toxic pollution is an immense problem. Contact these organizations to learn more about toxic waste killing Orca whales and us all.

Government agencies/resources on toxic waste:

Household and Lawn Toxic Waste

What goes on your lawn and down your drain ends up as runoff going into the habitat of salmon and orcas. Salmon can't find their way home, become diseased and cannot survive. Orcas eat the salmon and other fish, accumulate the toxins and suffer with disease and unsuccessful births. Take control of what comes from your home and your lawns. Shop for environmentally friendly household products. Eliminate chemicals from your yard and garden. These web sites will get you started:

Take a self-assessment test regarding your lifestyle impacts on salmon by clicking here.

Learn More about other threats facing the orcas:

300 Broadway, suite 28
San Francisco, CA 94133
415/788-3666 or fax 415/788-7324
marinemammal@earthisland.org