By: Phuong Lee
Published By: The Associated Press
Summary
Washington state's standards assume consumers can safely eat less than 8 ounces of fish per month. Regulators want to higher this amount so it could be sanitary to eat about 24 times this amount. The harmful toxins involved in the consumption of fish are mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. If fish consumption shall indeed become higher, fewer toxic pollutants would be allowed in state waters. This process would ensure tighter restrictions for the Washington residents. State officials want a fish consumption rate to allow races including the Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and local fishermen to continue to consume their normal amount. A lot of tribes already have water quality standards that reflect on local tribal waters. A handful of township directors believe this rate is still too low to represent certain areas so they almost "ignore" the rate and believe that it should better account for the people who eat fish the most. The main goal for the Washington people is to seek a reasonable and cost efficient solution.
Opinion/Reflection
The problem that has arisen in Washington is a problem that is faced by most states. The water quality in most states vary, but the common goal is to have less contaminates in our bodies of water. The article touches upon the aspect of consuming marine life but there is also the other facet of consuming water. The water quality affects both of these things which deals with the amount contaminates and pollutants in the water. Law restrictions is the next step needed to be taken in the state of Washington and every other 49 state. With many creeks and ponds in our area, we can see how pollutants such as pesticides end up into our water. In a suburban area, most home owners use some type of fertilizer to help their grass grow. I know for instance my family uses grass seed grower when our grass is burnt out in certain areas. The side people including myself do not see, is the affects it has on our water quality.
Questions
Why is public use of pesticides not warranted to limit contaminates in our water?
What is the U.S.'s water quality in comparison to other countries?
Whose jurisdiction covers the reviewing of townships' water quality?
What are the steps in testing a body of water's water quality?
Washington state's standards assume consumers can safely eat less than 8 ounces of fish per month. Regulators want to higher this amount so it could be sanitary to eat about 24 times this amount. The harmful toxins involved in the consumption of fish are mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. If fish consumption shall indeed become higher, fewer toxic pollutants would be allowed in state waters. This process would ensure tighter restrictions for the Washington residents. State officials want a fish consumption rate to allow races including the Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and local fishermen to continue to consume their normal amount. A lot of tribes already have water quality standards that reflect on local tribal waters. A handful of township directors believe this rate is still too low to represent certain areas so they almost "ignore" the rate and believe that it should better account for the people who eat fish the most. The main goal for the Washington people is to seek a reasonable and cost efficient solution.
Opinion/Reflection
The problem that has arisen in Washington is a problem that is faced by most states. The water quality in most states vary, but the common goal is to have less contaminates in our bodies of water. The article touches upon the aspect of consuming marine life but there is also the other facet of consuming water. The water quality affects both of these things which deals with the amount contaminates and pollutants in the water. Law restrictions is the next step needed to be taken in the state of Washington and every other 49 state. With many creeks and ponds in our area, we can see how pollutants such as pesticides end up into our water. In a suburban area, most home owners use some type of fertilizer to help their grass grow. I know for instance my family uses grass seed grower when our grass is burnt out in certain areas. The side people including myself do not see, is the affects it has on our water quality.
Questions
Why is public use of pesticides not warranted to limit contaminates in our water?
What is the U.S.'s water quality in comparison to other countries?
Whose jurisdiction covers the reviewing of townships' water quality?
What are the steps in testing a body of water's water quality?
