What is the source of the PCBs and Dioxins in Spotted Seatrout and Catfish?
At this time a specific source of PCBs in Galveston Bay is unknown. Because PCBs were once commonly used there are many potential sources. They take a long time to degrade or break down and they exist in the environment typically at very low concentrations. PCBs can be found in the sediments, rainfall runoff, in leaching water from buried equipment or landfills, inflow from contaminated tributaries, and atmospheric deposition. Dioxins are formed as unintentional byproducts of some industrial and chemical production processes, incineration of industrial and municipal solid waste and to a lesser extent as natural byproducts of combustion of fossil fuels and wood. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is looking for sources of dioxins and PCBs in the Houston Ship Channel as part of their Total Maximum Daily Load program. See www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/water/tmdl/26-hscdioxin.html and www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/water/tmdl/78-hsc-pcbs.html. TPWD, TCEQ and EP
