That causes an ammonia atom to break away from the PCB molecule. What remains is a more toxic PCB molecule much worse than the original. Fish, birds, wildlife and humans along the river are ingesting the PCBs. Bioaccumulation is the process of during which these toxins get into the food chain. Having these toxins remain in this critical spawning estuary is unacceptable.
Scientists can tell exactly where they are coming from.
These two plants discharged an estimated 1.3 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson River between 1947 and 1976. Those discharges led to unhealthy levels of PCBs to be found in the eggs and the skin of the striped bass in the Hudson River. This finding shut down the commercial fishery in the Hudson in 1976 and resulted in the health advisories we still experience today. In some areas these restrictions completely shut down the recreational fishery. We congratulate the EPA for putting together a very comprehensive plan to clean up the Hudson.