Got Phthalates?

Yes you do. They are ubiquitous, and inside you too. They are a man-made industrial compound used in everything from lipstick to hairspray. And they are of serious concern for Heather Trim the Urban Bays Project Coordinator with People for Puget Sound, a non-profit group working to restore the health of Puget Sound.

A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives showed that male fetuses are affected by phthalates in the womb of rats. “it is likely that this is happening in humans too” said Dr. Shanna Swan, lead researcher and professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School Medicine and Dentistry.

The study also tested the urine of pregnant human mothers and found that reduced testosterone, infertility, small penis size, and testicular anomalies are just some of the affects on newborn male humans, the Los Angeles times reported.

“They make plastic bend and are extremely useful, they are found throughout the Duwamish river” said Trim in a recent phone interview. Phthalates are exceeding clean up levels in some areas. “They are an extreme priority” she said.

Contamination in the river has lead to several Superfund designations over the last decade or so. Superfund designation means that these are some of the worst hot spots in the United States. Clean up of Poly-chlorinated byphenals (PCB's) and mercury are also a top priority for the group.

Source control is high on the list of demands being leveled by the group at the Port of Seattle, City of Seattle and King County, which make up ¾ of the Lower Duwammish Waterway Group (LDWG). The Boeing company is the other partner in the group but has no responsibility in the east waterway operable unit, now the focus of investigation. The Environmental Protection Agency is the lead agency in charge of cleaning up the river.

“This is not a trivial issue” Trim continued “they have been receptive to our concerns, but we need to have quality, comprehensive, at depth sampling” she said

Sources of contamination, historic and ongoing include several main areas. The Lander street and Hanford Combined Sewer Overflow Outfalls (CSO's). Other sources may include Harbor Island itself, which has been a concern for decades. Some believe that the Port of Seattle has “covered up” some historic contamination sites with asphalt. This could not be immediately confirmed however.