BRUNSWICK, Ga., March 1 (UPI) -- Scientists say bottlenose dolphins off the U.S. coast are at risk due to their food supply being contaminated with PCBs from a closed chemical factory.
The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union said Monday the PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyl, appear to have leaked into creeks and marshes from a closed LCP Chemicals plant in Brunswick, Ga.
Scientists said the chlorine-based chemicals, which are possible carcinogens, pollute members of the regional fish population that serve as a food supply for the bottlenose dolphins, thereby putting the dolphins at risk.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researcher Lori Schwacke said tests on dolphins off the coast of Brunswick as well as Sapelo Island found high levels of PCBs.
Schwanke said while a typical dolphin living on the U.S. East Coast should have PCB levels of nearly 64 parts per million, dolphins around Brunswick had nearly 400 parts per million.
"There is potential for people to be exposed to these PCBs. Whether the levels are high enough to warrant concerns for people's health ... that is still to be determined," Schwanke added.
