April and July
of 2004 -The Division of Natural Resources collected smallmouth bass
during this time period. In October, largemouth bass samples were
collected. Maryland and West Virginia officials collected suckers
for analysis in December. While the 2004 intersex results are not
fully completed, intersex is still being observed in smallmouth bass,
has not been seen in suckers, and is occurring at a lower rate in
largemouth bass.
[NOTE: 2004 DEP Press Release can be seen at:
West
Virginia University School of Medicine’s Community Health Department
and the West Virginia Cancer Registry have been investigating a suspected
Cancer Cluster in Hardy County, WV. Their findings indicate that the
overall cancer rate in Hardy County is at or slightly below the West
Virginia incidence rate. However, for cancers of organs/organ systems
considered estrogen-sensitive, brain, esophagus, gallbladder, liver,
uterus, and ovaries, the rate is higher and the age of diagnosis is
lower.
May 2006 - Fish
kill in South Branch of the Potomac reported, primarily golden redhorse
suckers. Location from Petersburg downstream, heaviest kill
apparently downstream of Moorefield through to Blue Beach below Romney. Cause of death undetermined, not known if due to environmental causes
or spawning stress.
September
2006 - EPA, Virginia and West Virginia sponsored a workshop related
to the Shenandoah and South Branch of the Potomac Rivers fish kill
investigations on September 20-21, 2006 at West Virginia's Cacapon
State Park. Investigators from both states, universities
, EPA and USGS presented and discussed a variety of information related
to the fish kills and intersex. Data/information for EPA's Causal
Analysis/ Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS) was
also solicited.
October 6, 2006 - The United States House of Representatives Committee
on Government Reform held a hearing "Ova-Pollution in the Potomac:
Egg-Bearing Male Bass and Implications for Human and Ecological Health."
Numerous presentations were made including ones from USGS, the Potomac
Riverkeeper, and ICPRB (see below.)
The
U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) information is available at
http://www.chesapeake.usgs.gov/feature/fishhealthWWWfeature.pdf
Potomac Riverkeeper Ed Merrifield's testimony can be read atwww.potomacriverkeeper.org.
The
Interstate Commission on the the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) testimony
by Executive Director Joseph Hoffman is covered in the Sept./Oct.
2006 issue of the Potomac Basin Reporter. Go to www.potomacrver.org.
