title: Environmental PCBs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico: implications for community health.
abstract: Guánica Bay, located in southwestern Puerto Rico, has suffered oil spills and other pollution discharges since the 1960s. Previous research showed elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in coral reef and sediment. This research examined PCB concentrations in sediment and fish. Sediment and fish sampling in the bay was facilitated by community members. This study identified the second highest reported PCB level (129,300 ng/g) in sediment in the USA. Fish samples also showed elevated concentrations (1623 to 3768 ng/g), which were higher than the thresholds of safe levels of PCBs in fish for human consumption. The alarmingly high concentration of PCBs calls for proactive community engagement to bring awareness about contamination of the bay and more extensive sampling to test for the concentration of PCBs in seafood and the people of Guánica. This study also underscores the value of the involvement of local communities during sampling design aimed at identifying hot spots of contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. nkumar@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Naresh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA.
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Solo-Gabriele
authors.affiliation: School of Communication, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Treaster
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.|General Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Olveen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carrasquillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toborek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA.
authors.forename: Leonidas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bachas
authors.affiliation: National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitall
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daunert
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szapocznik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D011647:Puerto Rico; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Community-based participatory approach; Fish; Guánica; Health risks; PCB; PCB exposure; Sediment