|
Mummichog samples taken
throughout the Elizabeth River system are underscoring the importance of
restoring Lizzy’s bottom.
In
November of 2003, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science published a
study of the health of this indicator species for the Virginia Department
of Environmental Quality. The study showed significant levels of cancer or
pre-cancerous lesions in the livers of the little minnows at nine of the
12 sites sampled.
Scientists
correlate the illness with high levels of pollution in the river bottom,
particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) associated with the
wood treatment compound creosote. The
highest cancer rates were at two sites on the Southern and one on the
Eastern Branch. |
