Ecological effects from Mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are pervasive. Researchers have reported high levels of PCBs and mercury in both fish and harbor seals in San Francisco Bay, concurrently with carcinogenic tumors.

The effects at lower accumulation rates indicate potential developmental and reproductive harm. One major human health indication is that fish in the San Francisco Bay and in tributary watersheds have mercury, PCBs, and other toxins in tissue exceeding levels considered safe for human consumption. State health advisories have been issued against the consumption of fish taken from the Guadalupe River and consumption of over two meals per month from the Bay due to mercury and PCB contamination. Low-income communities of color are disproportionately affected because members of such communities tend to rely upon fishing to supplement their diets. Pregnant women, infants and young children are especially at risk for developmental, nervous system, and hormonal health impacts from exposure to these contaminants (see Mercury, PCBs, and PBDEs ToxFAQs, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html).

The US EPA and the State Water Resources Control Board have identified mercury and PCBs as priority contaminants, and have established Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) processes to address their persistence in the San Francisco Bay and upland watersheds. The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board has recently added PBDEs to their proposed 2002 Watch List of priority contaminants under consideration for future TMDL listing. Accomplishing the water quality improvement goals of the TMDL process demands active citizen advocacy and quality assured monitoring data to shape the research agenda and foster community support for effective pollution abatement efforts.

An organized group of actively engaged citizens will advance the process by

(1) conducting field research on pollutant sources.
(2) helping to shape the form and pace of the TMDL research agenda.
(3) building community support for adequate research efforts and effective pollution abatement measures.

Importance of Empowering the Community

Educating people on watershed monitoring, pollution prevention and community advocacy is the first step in empowering low-income communities of color to change their environments. Clean Streams/Clean Bay is seeking to expand further in East San Jose to reach communities that have a risk of double exposure to chemicals from work and home. Many residences in East San Jose are low-income people of color and whose jobs are working on electronic assembly lines and live in homes close to polluting industries. These communities rely on fish from the streams and do not realize they are consuming large amounts of mercury and PCBs because the fish contain large concentrations of these chemicals, which are passed on and distributed to the consumer.

Empowering the community will help these communities become involved with policy and legislative decisions.

To learn more about how the Clean Streams/Clean Bay program works go to the Clean Streams/Clean Bay website.

http://www.svtc.org/sust_water/index.html