Were there any weird mutations of animal and marine life near DWD 106?
Dr. Michael H. Bothner: We didn’t notice any weird mutations. The relative abundance of some species of polychaete worms increased in sediments that received sewage sludge. When you add organic matter to marine sediments, opportunistic species of worms typically increase in numbers. In addition, analysis of sea urchins using stable isotopes of sulfur and nitrogen proved that the sludge-derived organic matter was indeed being consumed by animals living on the sea floor. This was an important finding, but unusual mutations were not reported. Laura: When did they first ban ocean dumping? Why did they want to dump in the ocean all the time? Dr. Michael H. Bothner: Under the terms of the Ocean Dumping Bay Act of 1988 (dumping defined as discharge from barges) the 106-Mile sewage sludge dump site was officially closed at the end of 1991. NYC continued to dump there until July 1992 (with penalties). I think the reason ocean dumping was attractive is that material dumped in the ocean “disappea
