The State We're In

An Unwanted Dose of PCBs

By David H. Moorr Recently, sudden and shocking proof about the need for pretreatment of industrial sewage emerged from Trentoh in the form of a depressing report on the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls tPCBst beipg found in New Jersey fish Regular readers will recall my column not long ago in vrtiich I argued for industrial pretreatment It’S a goal of the state Department of Environmental Protection i DEP i as well as of anyone familiar vCith deterioration of our enviropment IPs an ifsuo because industry in general resists the add ed expense of treating its sewage before it gets sent down the pipesjb the commynity'sewage treatment plant IIK/ttfY WETAUi and numerous chemical compounds • includ(nK PCBs) should be removed by pretreatment because they either pass in one end of the area treatment plant and out the other, or else they impair the bacterial action which makes a sewage plant work HEAVY METALS and numerous chemical compounds (including PCB*> should be removed by pretreatment because they either pass in one end of the area treatment plant and out the other, or else they impair the bacterial action which makes a sewage plant work With PCBs. which show up in many industrial operations but mainly as components of old electrical equip rfient 'they are banned for use nowadays, but enormous quantities are out there in our world). it s a simple matter of passing through the sewage treatment plant Valued because they are very inert, and last for decades, PCBs have had many uses The problem is that they are circumstantialy guilty of causing cancer A related problem is that, because they are so chemically indestructable, they accumulate in fish that we eat Like their close chemical cousins DDT and related chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, PCBs are nearly im possible to dissolve in water, but readily do so in oil or fat They tend to cling to mud and clays found in the bottom sediments of streams and the ocean THAT MEANS that one can analyze the water in a river like the Hudson and find hardly any PCBs But sampling the river's mud will turn uj£ terrible concentrations. That mud inexorably works itsway to the ocean Meanwhile, fish living in the river pick up their anatomies I mention the Hudson River because it’s one of the worst known repositories of PCBs anywhere Biological magnification is nature’s way of building up bigger and bigger doses of PCBs in fish When one medium-sized fish eats a number of smaller fish, it accumulates and stores all the PCBs from all of them Bigger fish eating numbers of medium-sized fish multiply their own PCB concentrations accordingly And so on. until you or I eat a fish and get an unwanted dose of PCBs SCIENCE SAYS that all of us probably have at least one part per million < ppm > of PCBs in our body fats right now The U S Food and Dnig Administration is thinking of lowering its 5-ppm PCB maximum fish limit to only 2 ppm of PCBs Fish are regarded the biggest source of PCBs in our diets After a six-year study. DEP released its first report in December of an ongoing survey it's making on PCB levels in New Jersey fish The agency warned against eating more than one meal per week of striped bass, eels, bluefish 'weighing six pounds or morei. white perch and w£pU‘ catfish It wisely has asked the Food and Drug Administration and the federal Bureau of Fisheries to begin coherent studies of PCBs among our Atlantic coastal fish species, because New Jersey has no corner or problems with migratory fish Similar readings can probably be obtam- . ed up ahd down the coast, if somebody would just start checking One of the ways to keep PCBs out of our fish is to require pretreatment of industrial sewage What better argument could there be'' Moore is executive director of the New Jersey Conser vation Foundation

HOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENT S PLANS Fl CUTTING THE DEFICI

Herald & Lantern 16 February '83

A - V""' c itUi” Our Readers Write Ripped Off by Book Reviews?

HOW ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP 7

To The Editor: Plaudits for the Herald and Lantern for recognizing the need for a book review column. In my opinion. Owen Murphy possesses the ability to offer your readership interesting and insightful critiques. And since he has chosen to review only one book per column, I appreciate that in the Feb. 2 review he selected a well-known author (Neil Postman) and a subject of general interest (childhood). Among the myriad of authors, Murphy might consider Leo Buscaglin and his latest endeavor, "The Fall of Freddie The Leaf", an adult children's book a la "The Little Prince", but hardly of that caliber. HOWEVER, this reader feels ripped off. We were informed (warned?) that the reviews would consist of some quotations from the books. If I am to presume that every paragraph after the three asterisks is a quotation, then there is almost twice as much quoting as reviewing taking place. Two more books could have been reviewed, not quoted, in that space, and the readers' appetite would be Shore Mass Transit To The Editor: On Jan 14, the President signed legislation that provided $30 million to establish efficient rail service between Atlantic City and Philadelphia I feel this legislation is significant in that the Jersey Shore will finally receive the attention it deserves relative to mass transit. While Cape May County will not benefit directly, there is hope that trunk lines will eventually come here. They would be able to utilize the existing rail bed previously owned by the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Line and operated by the New Jersey Transit. In any case, something is happening. THIS PROJECT was not an easy one to legislate, especially during these days of huge deficits and projected budget cuts. However, three New Jersey members of Congress deserve special recognition. Jim Florio, Bill Hughes and Bill Bradley worked diligently and masterfully to guide this legislation through the House and Senate. As a member of the Transportation Committee, Congressman Florio has been an advocate of mass transit for the Northeast Corridor. Hughes, Flo.io and Bradley all know the importance of railroads It's nice to know they will be responsible for creating many new jobs, bringing commerce to South Jersey and providing a solid rail link to our area JIM ALEXIS Cape May Court House

It Was Worse Than Buffalo

fmaifl v PablHhrd E*et> ttHnevllt B> P «» • Thr < o»p«»»lion NJ mm Joseph R. Zelnik Editor Ronnie Reina General Manager John Dunwoody Advertising Coordinator Gary L. Rudy Director of Retailer Promotions Darrell Kopp , Publisher

•Soowo*# Co«p 1983 AH ngtai r«t*rv*d All piop*H)r fighit (of o( >(>•« pvblicot-ofi «HoM b« pfop«<>; ol iHa Saawo>* Co»p No pon Haraol may ba taptoHmad wiibowi prior «rtin«n <on»an> DEADLINES News & Photos Thursday Advertising Friday - 3 p.m. Classified Advertising , Friday-3 p.m. r*e73312 F^r News Or Advertising Information ] Neilhar MfUrlMlinR ad*rrllarr» nnr Ihr puhlHhrr^ ol Ihr MERAI.O ANh I.ASTERN «ill ba re«po«*lblr <* liable lor mltlnformallon ml«print* l*po«raphKal error* elr In an* l»»*e Tbe edllor re*rV* e* Ihr rl«M In edit an* teller or arllrle* *ubmlllrd lor publlca

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whetted, not satiated. For practice, Murphy might try reviewing Molly Bang's "The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher", a beautifully illustrated, mystically intriguing story. It also happens to be a wordless book. In spite of this criticism, I really do enjoy your

newspaper.

ELIZABETH WHITTINGTON

Librarian

Cape May County Schools

for Special Services

Bravo and Kudos

To The Editor:

Thank you for the long over-due columns recommending "good reading" and vital health information. With the growing number of people who can not read, it is important to spread the word that we have, without question, the finest library in New Jersey. In it, we find offerings which would tantalize even the laziest student and enrich the most seasoned of readers. Bravo to Owen Murphy for pointing out some of the riches. And kudos to Dr. Beitman for showing us wavs to guard our most valuable asset, our health. I eagerly await future columns and praise your staff for bringing enlightenment to its readers. HARRY EMERSON OTTO

Stone Harbor

Thanks to the Many

To The Editor:

An Old Scouter would like to pay tribute to the men and women who volunteer their services in the Boy Scout

Organization.

The first week in February was designated "Boy Scout Week," a good time to say "thank you" to the many Scout Leaders, Den Mothers, Committee members and helpers who give their time and energy trying to teach and guide boys in wholesome, useful activities, assuming responsibilities and high moral standards Keep up the good work. More support from the parents would be appreciated. It is your sons who will be among the citizens and leaders of

the future.

DAN HOELLERING Committeeman North Wildwood Troop 74

What To Do When Marooned?

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By JOE ZELNIK Dear Boss, You should have been here last weekend. Would you believe we had thunder and lightning during a blinding blizzard’’ Now I know why former Philadelphia Bulletin editor B. Dale Davis left Cape May Point for Alaska — he wanted some milder weather I've been the butt of a'few jokes because 1 shuffled into Cape May from Buffalo, but Cape May last Friday was worse than Buffalo, and minus chicken wings. I did get to work, but I abandoned our lonely Cold Spring office at noon after the sixth pass by a snowplow driver trying to see how close he could pack the ice to my Olds. AFTER ALL. ^figured, why not get safely home and work from there’’ I have the stamina, the determination, the work ethic, the dedication. I'll admit the second thing 1 did upon getting home was to turn on the Television. (The first thing was to tie shut what was left of my front door after the wind took it. ► But the TV didn't keep me from my job. no sir. It wasn't working. (Buffalo never lets a winter storm knock out its television.) ^ So, deprived of "The Young and the Restless.'' I set up my portable typewriter and prepared to satisfy our readers' right to know One.thing interfered The temperature I put the thermostat at 70, 80, 90. but the temperature never got above 40 I know the electrician who "solved" that problem a week ago will have a logical explanation, but in the meantime my frigid fingers refused to do the walking or the talking THAT LEFT ME few choices I mean, what do you do. marooned in Cape May. your car drifted in, the weather too wild fftr a walk to the "C-View," TV on the blink’’ I don't know why. but what you do is eat I ate an apple, an English muffin, the peanuts, a flbttle of Stroh's. a bag of "Doritos," an orange, the chocolate chip cookies, even some stale jelly beans

Then I took the "Wall Street Journal" (and the mail carrier who delivered it through the drifts deserves a Presidential citation if not the Medal of Honor) and what was left of my Inglenook burgundy, got under the electric blanket, and thought about how nice Cape May had better be in the spring. If you want to dock me a half day's pay, I can’t blame you.

"Weil, Albert The Recession Is Over. It's Time To Start Wornng About Inflation "