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Deadly Accident Appears To Have Been Preventable

Bret Hanna — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:12:32 GMT

E. Dale LeBaron, 75, a retired Brigham Young University professor, was killed last week after he, his wife and a friend were struck by a car on an Orem street. The 21-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the trio said that he did not see them because the sun was reflecting off of frost on his windshield as he made a turn. City prosecutors have the case under review for possible charges against the driver.

This accident is certainly a tragedy for all involved, but it appears that it could have been prevented. The winter driving season is upon us and as I've written in the past, drivers must be prepared. One aspect of such preparedness is to make sure that you have a clear field of vision at all times while driving. Frost and snow pile up on cars when they sit outside and it is very easy to simply clear a small area to see through and be on your way. It may be easy, but it is also very dangerous. All drivers must take the time to fully clear and defrost all windows before heading down the road. And the sun can easily blind drivers when it is rising, setting, or is otherwise reflected toward vehicles. If you are temporarily blinded, slow down or stop immediately if you can do so safely and then wait until you can proceed with full visibility.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

Truck Hours of Service Case Settlement a Step in the Right Direction

Bret Hanna — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:33:26 GMT

A recent press release from the Truck Safety Coalition highlights an hours of service case settlement that has resulted in the Obama administration agreeing to reexamine the rule that is supposed to keep drowsy truck drivers off the road. Here is the text of the press release:

ARLINGTON, VA (November 10, 2009) – The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have agreed to conduct a new round of rulemaking that could result in reducing the current unsafe hours of service rule for truck drivers issued by the Bush administration in 2003.

As a result of the October 26 settlement, the Truck Safety Coalition, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, petitioned the court to hold in abeyance the lawsuit they filed against the FMCSA and their current hours of service rule. The FMCSA must begin a new rulemaking process and submit a notice of proposed rulemaking to the Office of Management and Budget within nine months and publish a final rule within 21 months.

The Bush administration increased the number of daily and weekly hours truckers can drive from 10 to 11 consecutive hours per 14-hour shift and total weekly driving hours from 60 to 77 per driver every seven days (a more than 25 percent increase). The rule dramatically expanded driving and work hours by cutting the off-duty rest and recovery time at the end of the week from a full weekend of 50 or more hours off duty to as little as only 34 hours.

The groups have petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals a total of three times, most recently in March 2009. In 2004 , the court vacated the hours of service rule on the grounds that the government did not adequately consider the effects of longer driving hours on individual truck driver health and traffic safety, and in 2007 because the agency did not let the public examine and comment on the new crash risk analysis used by the agency to support reissuing the same exact rule.

Daphne Izer, who co-founded Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.) in 1994 after a fatigued truck driver killed her 17-year-old son Jeff and his three close friends, was pleased with the settlement. "The good news is that there will be a new hours-of-service rule that hopefully will protect truck drivers and families like mine. This new rule must put people before profits."

Dawn King, whose father, William Badger, was killed on December 23, 2004 when a tractor trailer driver fell asleep behind the wheel and collided with his car, is currently a board member of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) and a participant in the Truck Safety Coalition’s First Response program assisting fellow grieving truck crash victims. She added, "Fatigued drivers are a threat to the safety of everyone on the road. This settlement is a positive step forward and should lead to improved worker and safety regulations in the truck driving industry."

This is a huge step in the right direction. Let's hope new rule scales back the allowable hours of service to a safer, more rationale number and that it is implemented quickly.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

Proposed Bill Takes Aim at Canal Safety but Misses Target

Bret Hanna — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:51:38 GMT

I did a series of posts in the wake of the failure of the Logan Northern Canal last summer, that claimed the lives of three people and turned a spot light on the potential dangers posed by canals in Utah. You can find them here:

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/canal-collapse-in-logan-highlights-troubled-history.aspx?googleid=266956

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/is-logan-city-responsible-for-canal-failure.aspx?googleid=267046

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-third-installment.aspx?googleid=267152

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-fourth-installment.aspx?googleid=267226

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-fifth-installment.aspx?googleid=267620

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-sixth-installment.aspx?googleid=267870

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-seventh-installment.aspx?googleid=267952

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-eighth-installment.aspx?googleid=268544

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-ninth-installment.aspx?googleid=269776

http://saltlakecity.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/logan-northern-canal-disaster-tenth-installment.aspx?googleid=271416

Despite the significance of this tragedy, canal safety has not been in the news much lately but that changed today.

Rep. Fred Hunsaker, R-Logan, is sponsoring a bill is designed to improve canal safety. He presented a draft of the bill yesterday to the Executive Water Task Force which has been reviewing canal safety issues. In summary, the bill requires canal companies that want state loan money to file management plans that include identification of hazards and plans for canal improvements. The plans must be submitted by 2013 and updated at least once a decade.

Hunsaker's bill may be a good start, but it does not appear to have a lot of teeth as currently written. First, canal companies that don't want state loan monies don't have to submit management plans. Hunsaker's response to this loophole is that canal companies will want to make improvements and the only way they can is with state funded loans. Time will tell, I suppose, but that seems like a pretty big "if." Next, the state will not do anything with the plans other than document that they are submitted. What good does that do? Companies can submit whatever plans they like knowing that no one is reviewing them with a critical eye. Finally, it does not appear that the public will have access to the plans. The bill precludes the state from disclosing the plans but there is a fuzzy area when it comes to whether local entities that own canal company shares must also keep the plans private. Either way, the public will not have open access to the plans.

Again, the bill may be a good starting point but it seems like the public is entitled to better protections than those provided by Hunsaker's draft.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

Trucking Industry Pushes Hours of Service Rule Myths

Bret Hanna — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:30:27 GMT

This is a follow-up to my post from the other day which covered a recent settlement of an hours of service rule case that, with luck, is a step in the right direction. To recap the problem:

The Bush administration increased the number of daily and weekly hours truckers can drive from 10 to 11 consecutive hours per 14-hour shift and total weekly driving hours from 60 to 77 per driver every seven days (a more than 25 percent increase). The rule dramatically expanded driving and work hours by cutting the off-duty rest and recovery time at the end of the week from a full weekend of 50 or more hours off duty to as little as only 34 hours.

The Truck Safety Coalition, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed suit against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) over the rule and because of a settlement reached on October 26th, the FMCSA will begin a new round of rule making that may result in a reduction of hours allowed by the current unsafe hours of service rule.

The trucking industry, however, continues to push myths about the Bush hours of service rule that simply must be debunked. Fortunately, the Truck Safety Administration has prepared an information sheet doing just that:

Facts Rebutting the Trucking Industry Myths about the Progress of Truck Safety and
the Bush Administration Hours of Service (HOS) Rule

Myth: Fatigue-Related Truck Crash Fatalities have decreased under the HOS rule.

Fact: This claim is false. Data from the official government fatality database, the Fatal
Analysis Reporting System (FARS), shows that while large truck crash fatalities decreased in 2006 from 2005, this followed increases in truck crash fatalities in the 3 years immediately prior to 2006. Truck crash fatalities rose in 2003, 2004, and 2005 over each previous year. Notably, the increases in fatalities in 2004 and 2005 occurred during the first 2 years the Bush Administration HOS rule was in effect.

Fact: Even the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not assert
that truck fatalities have declined as a result of the Bush Administration HOS rule.
FMCSA states only that the rule did not make things worse.

Fact: National motor vehicle fatality figures cannot be used to "prove" that any specific
motor vehicle safety regulation among the hundreds that have been issued over the years is the single reason for any annual change in traffic deaths.

************************************************************

Myth: Truck fatality figures have improved in recent years. The trucking industry asserts
that because fatalities in truck-involved crashes was lower in 2006 (5,027 fatalities)
than, for example, in 2000 (5,282 fatalities) that fatalities have decreased.

Fact: FARS data shows that truck fatalities rose in 2003, 2004 and again in 2005 from
each previous year. Truck deaths over the 10-year span of 1997 through 2006 averaged over 5,000 per year, and dipped slightly below that total only in 2002 (4,939). (Recent annual fatality totals of less than 5,000 deaths due to the recession are explained below.)

Fact: The relative risk of dying in a large truck crash has actually increased compared
to fatalities in passenger vehicle crashes. In 1995, the relative risk of a fatal truck crash per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT) was less than 20 percent greater than the relative risk of a fatal passenger vehicle crash, but the relative risk of a fatal truck crash has risen sharply since 1995 so that now the fatality risk in fatal truck crashes is 55 percent greater than the fatality risk in passenger vehicle crashes.

Fact: The proportion of truck crash fatalities to all annual motor vehicle fatalities has
not changed. In 2008, one of every 9 traffic deaths were the result of large truck fatal crashes. That proportion of traffic deaths has not changed for many years and is virtually constant from 1997 through 2008.

************************************************

Myth: Recent decreases in national truck deaths in 2007 and 2008 (preliminary data)
can be attributed to the Bush Administration HOS rule.

Fact: Recent decreases in overall fatality statistics in 2007 and 2008 reflect reductions in
freight tonnage linked with the recessionary economy. The sudden and precipitous decline in truck fatalities in 2007 and 2008 is linked with substantial reductions in both truck freight tonnage and a sharp drop in commercial vehicle miles of travel from the latter part of 2007 through 2008 due to adverse economic conditions. This reduces overall truck crash exposure. Similar declines in passenger vehicle fatalities are the result of reduced travel and commensurately reduced crash risk exposure.

Fact: Historically, economic recessions have been accompanied by reductions
in traffic fatalities. Every U.S. recession has coincided with a decline in motor
vehicle fatalities. CNBC News reports that “fatalities fell more than 16 percent from
1973 to 1974 as the nation dealt with the oil crisis and inflation. Highway deaths
dropped nearly 11 percent from 1981 to 1982 as President Ronald Reagan battled the
recession.”

************************************************************

Myth: Three-quarters of truck crash fatalities are "caused" by the drivers of passenger
vehicles.

Fact: There is no study proving that passenger vehicle drivers "cause" three-quarters of
the fatalities in crashes involving passenger vehicles and large trucks. The false claim by the trucking industry is a “junk science.” It is predicated on a deliberate misreading of studies that relied on descriptive “driver factor codes” reported by police at the crash scene and tabulated in FARS. These codes are after-the-fact notations often based on speculative information, as acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and are not the product of in-depth crash investigations to accurately determine contributing factors that led to a particular crash.

Fact: The authors of both studies have stated that the study findings cannot be used to
attribute “fault” or “causation” as the industry has asserted. The author of the 1998
study on which the industry claim is based has stated that his study had been misused by the trucking industry and explained that the study could not be interpreted to assign fault or determine crash causation for the truck-passenger vehicle collisions he evaluated. The authors of the 2002 study disclaimed any causal connection between reported driver actions and crash outcomes. The industry claims are an intentional mischaracterization of the findings in these research reports.

Fact: FMCSA studies and FMCSA officials have also repudiated this industry claim.
According t o FMCSA “driver factor codes” cannot be equated with fault.

Fact: A number of studies contradict the claim that passenger vehicle drivers are to
blame for most crashes involving both large trucks and passenger vehicles. These include
studies that: found that truck drivers were primarily responsible for the majority of highway interchange crashes;15 found that nonfatal lane change crashes on the Washington, D.C. Capital Beltway (I-495) were twice as likely to be the result of a tractor-trailer changing lanes rather than a light vehicle lane change; found that in all crashes between trucks and light vehicles, trucks were more likely to be the “contributor” to the crash than light vehicles by 48 percent to 39 percent, and trucks were more responsible than light vehicles in backing, rear-end, rightturn, left-turn, and sideswipe collisions.

To see the data underlying this fact sheet, look here.

In order to make sure that the roadways are safe for everyone, we must all know the facts and use them to try and make the world a safer place.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

Guilty Verdict Sends Message to Both Drivers and Cyclists: Calm Down!

Mark Williams — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:24:11 GMT

A retired emergency room physician was found guilty by a Los Angeles jury for injuries he caused to two cyclists when he deliberately stopped short in front of them on a canyon road leading up to his neighborhood. This case has been seen as a test of the rights of road cyclists. While it definitely is a strike back at aggressive motorists who do not believe cyclists have a place on the road, it also sends a message to cyclist to use restraint when responding to insults from angry drivers. In the fight between a motorist and a cyclist, the cyclist will almost always lose. Because of this disparity, if cyclists want to survive a show-down on the road (especially on the many isolated section in the country or mountains), they need to be the one to exercise restraint and remain calm in a volatile confrontation with a driver. Many drivers do not believe a cyclist has any right to be on the road. Others have anger issues- whether running into cyclists or other motorists. Still others have a disdain for bikers based on past observations of cyclists hogging the road, running stop signs, or riding two or three-abreast in areas designated for singe-file. Because of these factors, the cyclist cannot afford to react with anger. If a cyclist is cut off by a car, if the cyclist reacts with a raised finger or fist, profanity, or an angry shout, this is likely to spark further confrontation. It can only end in injury or even worse, death.

Drivers should be warned by the outcome of this trial. Trying to "teach a lesson" to scofflaw bikers may land you in jail. However, this case should also send a message to cyclists that they may end up on the pavement or sticking their head through a broken car window if they try to take on an aggressive driver. The lesson for all is simple: Calm down! Think twice before retaliating for perceived insults. Practice safe driving and practice peace. Turn the cheek... live another day.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mark Williams

Brain Injury Conference to be Held in Salt Lake Tomorrow

Bret Hanna — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:34:58 GMT

The Brain Injury Association of Utah (BIAU) is holding its Families & Professionals Conference 2009 tomorrow at the Miller Campus of Salt Lake Community College. If interested, you can still register between 8:00 and 9:00 tomorrow morning.

The BIAU is the only non-profit in the state dedicated to providing education and services aimed at preventing and treating brain injuries. It offers a wealth of information concerning the nature and types of brain injuries, as well as fascinating facts:

Every 23 seconds, one person in the U.S. sustains a brain injury

Over the past 12 years, mortality from brain injury has exceeded the cumulative number of American battle deaths inclusive of all wars since the founding of the Republic.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a silent yet serious epidemic currently leaving 5.3 million Americans with disabilities. This represents over- 2% of the US population; 40,000 victims in Utah alone!

50% of brain injuries are caused by vehicle crashes, 26% by falls.

In September 2000 alone, 8600 children under the age of 15 suffered a brain injury from scooter accidents... almost 300 children per day!

Every 7 minutes, someone dies of a brain injury

One death every day and one brain injury every four minutes can be prevented by the use of helmets in recreational activities, including skiing and biking.

80 % of brain injury victims end up in a divorce

75% of persons with TBI who return to work will lose their job within 90 days if they do not have supports.

The estimated lifetime cost for each survivor of a severe brain injury exceeds $4 million.

According to a study conducted by The National Foundation for the Brain, the cost of brain injury in the United States was $48.3 billion in 1992. Hospitalization accounts for $31.7 billion, and fatal brain injuries cost the nation $16.6 billion each year. We estimate that this figure may be substantially higher today.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a silent yet serious epidemic currently leaving 5.3 million Americas with Disabilities. This represents over 2% of the US population; estimated 40,000 individuals in Utah alone suffer from a long-term disability from brain injury!

Each year, approximately 567,000 people go to the hospital emergency departments with bicycle related injuries; about 350,000 of those are children under 15 years of age. Of those children, about 130,000 sustain brain injuries.

1 million children sustain brain injuries every year ranging from mild to severe, with approximately one-third of all pediatric injury cases are related to brain injury. This public health concern ranks as the leading cause of death and disability in children and adolescents in the United States.

In Utah, during the school year 1997-98, there were 900 injuries that affected those from kindergarten through sixth grade. Of these injuries, 276 were possible concussions or loss of consciousness. This is disconcerting because these types of head injuries can cause long term problems.

It is estimated that one million people are treated for TBI and released from hospital emergency rooms every year.

Each year, 80,000 Americans experience the onset of long-term disability following TBI.

More than 50,000 people die every year as a result of TBI.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of brain injury. They account for 50% of all TBIs.

Falls are the second leading cause, and the leading cause of brain injury in the elderly.

The risk of TBI is highest among adolescents, young adults and those older than 75.

After one brain injury, the risk for a second injury is three times greater; after the second injury, the risk for a third injury is eight times greater.

And information on services and resources available for those impacted by brain injuries:

Community Services
Education -

Independent Living Center - The Utah Independent Living Center (UILC) is committed to provide services needed by people with disabilities to function more independently in their families and communities. Services available include both individual services and services rendered to make the community more accessible allowing for greater participation by people with disability.

Respite - A means for taking over the care of a person temporarily (for a few hours to a few days) to provide a period of relief for the primary caregiver.
Financial Services
Division of Services for People with Disabilities - We promote opportunities and provide support for persons with disabilities to lead self-determined lives. We oversee home and community-based services for more than 4,000 people who have disabilities. Support includes community living, day services, supported employment services, and support for people with disabilities and their families.

Medicaid - State and federal program of public assistance to persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care.

Medicare - Hospital and supplementary medical insurance for disabled or aged persons under the Social Security Act.

Social Security - Benefits for people with disabilities - The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need.
Legal Services
CAP - The Client Assistance Program (CAP) at the Disability Law Center protects the legal rights of people who apply for or are already clients of the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or Independent Living (IL) agencies.

Disability Law Center - Disability Law Center can help you get the help you need to protect your rights as a person with a brain injury. The Mission of the Disability Law Center is to enforce and strengthen laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities in Utah. We envision a just society where all people are treated with equity, dignity and respect.

Utah Legal Center - Utah Legal Services seeks to protect the rights of the disadvantaged and persons of limited means by legal representation, advocacy, and education throughout Utah. Utah Legal Services (ULS) is a nonprofit law office which provides legal help in non-criminal cases, free of charge, to those who qualify. ULS serves the entire state through a variety of locations and in 1990, Utah had more than 300,000 persons eligible for legal help from ULS.
Medical Services
Day Programs - Programs that address leisure/recreation, maximizing basic functional skills and daily living. Long-term placement during the day, whereby person returns to residence in the evening.

Outpatient Therapy - An intensive outpatient program, designed to maximize functional skills, address psychological and behavioral adjustment, and vocational rehab. Short-term, based on functional gains; focus on preparation for community and vocational re-entry. The person with a brain injury usually participates 2 to 4 types of therapy, 3 to 5 times per week.

Residential Facilities - A place where one resides, and may include community-based residential facilities, group homes, adult family homes, supported/supervised living.
Support Groups
A group established for families and/or persons with disabilities to discuss problems they may be having in coping with their life situation and to seek solutions to these problems.

Click here to view a list of support groups in Utah.
Recreation Services
Camp Kostopulos - The Kostopulos Dream Foundation is an agency dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities. For more than thirty years, we have offered recreational opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities. Our goal is to make our services available to all people, regardless of ability level, income or place of residence.

National Ability Center - The National Ability Center’s innovative programs provide an environment where individuals are empowered to each their full potential. With the emphasis on safety, fun and education, the Ability Center encourages the participation of individuals of all ages and disabilities.

Splore - Since 1979, SPLORE, a Salt Lake City based non-profit organization, has been a leader in providing outdoor adventures for people with disabilities and special needs. To date, over 20,000 individuals have participated in a recreational activity with SPLORE.

Please support this valuable organization by attending its events, such as the conference tomorrow, or through direct support of its mission.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

Surgeon Operated On Wrong Side Of Brain

Amy Schauers — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:45:32 GMT

A Rhode Island hospital was fined $50,000 and reprimanded for operating BRAIN SURGERY on the wrong side of a patient's head. This patient had a bleed on the right side of his brain and the surgeon began drilling on the left side. Once the mistake was realized, the surgeon stitched up the patient and began drilling on the correct side.

A different doctor at the same hospital performed brain surgery on the wrong side of another patient's head in February. Also in August, a patient died after a third doctor operated on the wrong side of his head. According to a statement the hospital said:

"Effective immediately, all intra-cranial neurosurgery procedures will have an attending physician present for the entire procedure and the timeout process to verify site and side for significant procedures in the operating room or at the bed side will include one physician and a nurse or physician assistant in addition to the resident."

In 2004 the state of Florida implemented the "pause rule" which means that the surgeon and the team must out loud name the patient, the procedure and the site and side being operated on.

A study in the Archives of Surgery found that over a 20 year period, of 2.8 million operations, wrong-site occurred in one of every 112,994 surgeries excluding the spine.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amy Schauers

When Boating And Fishing, Be Careful

Bret Hanna — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

June is boating safety month on InjuryBoard, and fishing goes hand in hand with boating for many people. Fresh caught fish is an important part of a smart diet for many Utahans, but there are some things that should be on the minds of all those who are incorporating fish into their diets. In order to address potential health issues, several Utah governmental agencies have joined together to provide an information clearinghouse.

The clearinghouse offers the following advisories:

Consumption Advisories
Fish Advisories in Utah

Waterfowl Advisories in Utah

National Fish Advisories

Mercury Advisory for Women and Children

Eat Fish, Choose Wisely
Fish are important in a healthy diet. They are a lean, low-calorie source of protein. However, some fish from specific areas in Utah may contain chemicals that could pose health risks. When contaminant levels are unsafe, Utah Public Health Officials issue fish consumption advisories.

These advisories outline recommendations for limiting intake of specific fish at specific locations. Fish advisories have been issued in Utah due to elevated levels of arsenic, mercury and selenium. These advisories are listed by category below.

Choose a Category:
By County By Fish Species By Contaminant By Waterbody

Cache County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on September 30, 2008 due to elevated Mercury levels for brown trout from Porcupine Reservoir in Cache County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Pamphlet (coming soon)

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Duchesne County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on September 30, 2008 due to elevated Mercury levels for brown trout from Rock Creek below Upper Stillwater Reservoir in Duchesne County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Pamphlet (coming soon)

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Emery County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on April 23, 2007 due to elevated Mercury levels for splake trout from Joe’s Valley Reservoir in Emery County. The advisory was revised/updated on September 30, 2008, see notice below.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 04-23-07

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Joe's Valley Reservoir Consumption Advisory pamphlet

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Garfield County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on April 23, 2007 due to elevated Mercury levels for brown trout from Calf Creek and Pine Creek in Garfield County. The advisory was revised/updated on September 30, 2008, see notice below.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 04-23-07

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Calf Creek Consumption Advisory pamphlet

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Green River in Desolation Canyon (Uintah / Carbon Counties)

A fish consumption advisory due to elevated mercury levels was issued November 10, 2005 for the Green River in Desolation Canyon.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 11-10-05

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Grand County

A fish consumption advisory due to elevated mercury levels was issued August 22, 2005 for Mill Creek in Grand County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 08-22-05

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Iron County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on April 23, 2007 due to elevated Mercury levels for rainbow trout from the Newcastle Reservoir in Iron County. The advisory was revised/updated on September 30, 2008, see notice below.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 04-23-07

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Newcastle Reservoir Consumption Advisory pamphlet

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Piute County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on September 30, 2008 due to elevated Mercury levels for brown trout from East Fork Sevier River between Otter Creek and Piute Reservoirs in Piute County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Summit County

A fish consumption advisory due to elevated arsenic levels was issued October 27, 2004 for Silver Creek in Summit County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 10-27-04

Health Effects of Arsenic

Safe Eating Guideline

Uintah County

A fish and waterfowl consumption advisory due to elevated selenium was issued August 22, 1991 for the Ashley Creek drainage and Stewart Lake in Uintah County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 08-21-1991

Health Effects of Selenium

Safe Eating Guideline

Utah County

A fish consumption advisory has been issued for carp and channel catfish found in Utah Lake after state officials found elevated levels of PCBs in the fish.

Click Here for more information

Final Report: PCBs in Utah Lake Sediment Study

Consumption Advisory issued 10-02-07 for Channel Catfish, Expanded for Carp in Utah Lake

Fish Consumption Advisory dated 05-16-06

Utah Lake Fish Consumption Advisory Pamphlet

Utah Lake Fish Consumption Advisory Sign

Health Effects of PCBs

Safe Eating Guideline

Wasatch County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on April 23, 2007 due to elevated Mercury levels for brown trout from the Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County. The advisory was revised/updated on September 30, 2008 to include smallmouth bass.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 04-23-07

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Jordanelle Reservoir Consumption Advisory pamphlet

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Washington County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on April 23, 2007 due to elevated Mercury levels for rainbow trout from the Upper Enterprise Reservoir in Washington County. The advisory was revised/updated on September 30, 2008, see notice below.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 04-23-07

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Upper Enterprise Consumption Advisory pamphlet

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

A fish consumption advisory due to elevated mercury levels was issued August 22, 2005 for Largemouth Bass from Gunlock Reservoir in Washington County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 08-22-05

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

A fish consumption advisory was issued on September 30, 2008 due to elevated Mercury levels for largemouth bass from Sand Hollow Reservoir in Washington County.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Weber County

A fish consumption advisory was issued on April 23, 2007 due to elevated mercury levels for brown trout from the Weber River near Morgan, Utah. The advisory was revised/updated on September 30, 2008, see notice below.

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 04-23-07

Fish Consumption Advisory issued 09-30-08

Weber River Consumption Advisory pamphlet

Health Effects of Mercury

Safe Eating Guideline

Brown Trout
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Calf Creek in Garfield County

East Fork Sevier River between Otter Creek and Piute Reservoirs in Piute County

Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County

Mill Creek in Grand County

Pine Creek in Garfield County

Porcupine Reservoir in Cache County

Rock Creek below Upper Stillwater Reservoir in Duchesne County

Silver Creek in Summit County (all Trout species)

Weber River in Morgan County

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Carp
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Utah Lake in Utah County

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Catfish
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Desolation Canyon in Carbon County

Utah Lake in Utah County

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Largemouth Bass
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Gunlock Reservoir in Washington County

Sand Hollow Reservoir in Washington County

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Rainbow Trout
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Upper Enterprise Reservoir in Washington County

Newcastle Reservoir in Iron County

Silver Creek in Summit County (all Trout species)

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Smallmouth Bass
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Splake Trout
Consumption Advisories apply to the following locations:

Joe's Valley Reservoir in Emery County

Silver Creek in Summit County (all Trout species)

Consumption Advisory:

See the Health Risks Page

Jump to: Arsenic | Mercury | PCBs | Selenium
Arsenic
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust. In the environment, arsenic is combined with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic in animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic compounds.

Inorganic arsenic compounds are mainly used to preserve wood. Copper chromated arsenic (CCA) is used to make "pressure-treated" lumber. CCA is no longer used in the U.S. for residential uses; it is still used in industrial applications. Organic arsenic compounds are used as pesticides, primarily on cotton plants.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Click to view information on fish species and waterbodies affected by this contaminant
Mercury
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquid at room temperature. It is used in thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs and some electrical switches. When dropped, elemental mercury breaks into smaller droplets which can go through small cracks or become strongly attached to certain materials. At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. People can be exposed to elemental mercury vapor when products that contain mercury break and expose mercury to the air, particularly in poorly-ventilated spaces.

Inorganic mercury compounds take the form of mercury salts and are generally white powder or crystals, with the exception of mercuric sulfide (cinnabar) which is red. Inorganic mercury compounds have been included in products such as fungicides, antiseptics or disinfectants. Some skin lightening and freckle creams, as well as some traditional medicines, can contain mercury compounds.

Organic mercury compounds, such as methylmercury, are formed when mercury combines with carbon. Microscopic organisms convert inorganic mercury into methylmercury, which is the most common organic mercury compound found in the environment. Methylmercury accumulates up the food chain.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Click to view information on fish species and waterbodies affected by this contaminant
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic chemicals comprising 209 individual chlorinated biphenyl compounds (known as congeners). Exposure to each of these compounds is associated with different levels of risk for harmful effects. There are no known natural sources of PCBs. Although PCBs are no longer manufactured in the United States, people can still be exposed to them. The two main sources of exposure to PCBs are the environment and the workplace. Due to resistance to degradation, PCBs persist in the environment for decades.

Recent studies conducted in the Great Lakes basin indicate that a) fish consumption remains the major route of exposure to PCBs and b) health consequences are associated with these exposures. The following summary identifies those groups at risk because of exposure to PCBs and summarizes recently published information on exposure, sociodemographics, and health findings for these groups.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Click to view information on fish species and waterbodies affected by this contaminant
Selenium
Selenium is a naturally occurring substance that is toxic at high concentrations but is also a nutritionally essential element. Hydrogen selenide is the most acutely toxic selenium compound. Acute (short-term) exposure to elemental selenium, hydrogen selenide, and selenium dioxide by inhalation results primarily in respiratory effects, such as irritation of the mucous membranes, pulmonary edema, severe bronchitis, and bronchial pneumonia. Epidemiological studies of humans chronically (long-term) exposed to high levels of selenium in food and water have reported discoloration of the skin, pathological deformation and loss of nails, loss of hair, excessive tooth decay and discoloration, lack of mental alertness, and listlessness. Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse association between selenium levels in the blood and cancer occurrence and animal studies have reported that selenium supplementation, as sodium selenate, sodium selenite, and organic forms of selenium, results in a reduced incidence of several tumor types. The only selenium compound that has been shown to be carcinogenic in animals is selenium sulfide, which resulted in an increase in liver tumors from oral exposure. EPA has classified elemental selenium as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity, and selenium sulfide as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Click to view information on fish species and waterbodies affected by this contaminant

* Waterbodies are listed alphabetically *

Calf Creek in Garfield County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Desolation Canyon in Carbon County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Catfish

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

East Fork Sevier River between Otter Creek and Piute Reservoirs in Piute County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Gunlock Reservoir in Washington County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Largemouth Bass

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Joe's Valley Reservoir in Emery County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Splake Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Lower Ashley Creek drainage and Stewart Lake in Uintah County, Utah

Contaminant: Selenium

Species: Fish/Ducks (Advisory also applies to Waterfowl)

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Mill Creek in Grand County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Newcastle Reservoir in Iron County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Rainbow Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Pine Creek in Garfield County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Porcupine Reservoir in Cache County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Rock Creek below Upper Stillwater Reservoir in Duchesne County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Sand Hollow Reservoir in Washington County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Largemouth Bass

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Silver Creek in Summit County, Utah

Contaminant: Arsenic

Species: All Trout Species

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Upper Enterprise Reservoir in Washington County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Rainbow Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Utah Lake in Utah County, Utah

Contaminant: PCBs

Species: Carp | Catfish

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Weber River in Morgan County, Utah

Contaminant: Mercury

Species: Brown Trout

Health Risk: See the Health Risks Page

Mercury Advisory for Women and Children
What You Need to Know About Mercury In Fish and Shellfish

Advice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to:

Women Who Might Become Pregnant

Women Who are Pregnant

Nursing Mothers

Young Children

Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

3 Safety Tips

By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

Do not eat:

Shark

Swordfish

King Mackerel

Tilefish

They contain high levels of mercury.

Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are:

shrimp

canned light tuna

salmon

pollock

catfish

Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.

Visit the Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Website http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/list.html or the Environmental Protection Agency's Fish Advisory Website www.epa.gov/ost/fish for a listing of mercury levels in fish.

It also offers the following health risk outline and eating guidelines:

Health Risks
Safe Eating Guideline for fish you catch

Contaminants Overview

Eat Fish, Choose Wisely
Safe Eating Guideline for fish you catch

Waterbody County Contaminant
Species
Pregnant Women & Children
*4 oz. meals/month Adults
8 oz. meals/month

Calf Creek

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Garfield Mercury Brown Trout 2 2

Desolation Canyon

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Carbon Mercury Catfish 1 2

East Fork Sevier River between Otter Creek and Piute Reservoirs Piute Mercury Brown Trout Avoid Consumption 2

Gunlock Reservoir

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Washington Mercury Largemouth Bass 1 2

Joe's Valley Reservoir

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Emery Mercury Splake Trout
(greater than 12") Avoid Consumption 1

Jordanelle Reservoir

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Wasatch Mercury Brown Trout

Smallmouth Bass 1

Avoid Consumption
2

2

Lower Ashley Creek drainage & Stewart Lake
Uintah Selenium Fish/Ducks Avoid Consumption No more than 1
6 oz. serving/month

Mill Creek

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Grand Mercury Brown Trout 1 3

Newcastle Reservoir

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Iron Mercury Rainbow Trout Avoid Consumption 1

Pine Creek Garfield Mercury Brown Trout Avoid Consumption 2

Porcupine Reservoir Cache Mercury Brown Trout Avoid Consumption 1

Rock Creek below Upper Stillwater Reservoir Duchesne Mercury Brown Trout
(greater than 12") Avoid Consumption 2

Sand Hollow Reservoir Washington Mercury Largemouth Bass Avoid Consumption 2

Silver Creek

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Summit Arsenic Trout 1 3

Upper Enterprise Reservoir

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Washington Mercury Rainbow Trout Avoid Consumption 1

Utah Lake

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Utah PCBs
Carp

Catfish
Avoid Consumption
.5

Weber River

Fact Sheet

Health Consultation Document

Morgan Mercury Brown Trout Avoid Consumption 2

*4 oz. of raw fish is about the size of one deck of playing cards.
Contaminants Overview
Jump to: Arsenic | Mercury | PCBs | Selenium
Arsenic
Background

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust. In the environment, arsenic is combined with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic in animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic compounds.

Inorganic arsenic compounds are mainly used to preserve wood. Copper chromated arsenic (CCA) is used to make "pressure-treated" lumber. CCA is no longer used in the U.S. for residential uses; it is still used in industrial applications. Organic arsenic compounds are used as pesticides, primarily on cotton plants.

In the Environment

Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and minerals and it therefore may enter the air, water, and land from wind-blown dust and may get into water from runoff and leaching.

Arsenic cannot be destroyed in the environment. It can only change its form.

Rain and snow remove arsenic dust particles from the air.

Many common arsenic compounds can dissolve in water. Most of the arsenic in water will ultimately end up in soil or sediment.

Fish and shellfish can accumulate arsenic; most of this arsenic is in an organic form called arsenobetaine that is much less harmful.

Human Exposure

Ingesting small amounts present in your food and water or breathing air containing arsenic.

Breathing sawdust or burning smoke from wood treated with arsenic.

Living in areas with unusually high natural levels of arsenic in rock.

Working in a job that involves arsenic production or use, such as copper or lead smelting, wood treating, or pesticide application.

Health Effects

Breathing high levels of inorganic arsenic can give you a sore throat or irritated lungs.

Ingesting very high levels of arsenic can result in death. Exposure to lower levels can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of "pins and needles" in hands and feet.

Ingesting or breathing low levels of inorganic arsenic for a long time can cause a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small "corns" or "warts" on the palms, soles, and torso.

Skin contact with inorganic arsenic may cause redness and swelling.

Organic arsenic compounds are less toxic than inorganic arsenic compounds. Exposure to high levels of some organic arsenic compounds may cause similar effects as inorganic arsenic.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)
Mercury
Background

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquid at room temperature. It is used in thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs and some electrical switches. When dropped, elemental mercury breaks into smaller droplets which can go through small cracks or become strongly attached to certain materials. At room temperature, exposed elemental mercury can evaporate to become an invisible, odorless toxic vapor. People can be exposed to elemental mercury vapor when products that contain mercury break and expose mercury to the air, particularly in poorly-ventilated spaces.

Inorganic mercury compounds take the form of mercury salts and are generally white powder or crystals, with the exception of mercuric sulfide (cinnabar) which is red. Inorganic mercury compounds have been included in products such as fungicides, antiseptics or disinfectants. Some skin lightening and freckle creams, as well as some traditional medicines, can contain mercury compounds.

Organic mercury compounds, such as methylmercury, are formed when mercury combines with carbon. Microscopic organisms convert inorganic mercury into methylmercury, which is the most common organic mercury compound found in the environment. Methylmercury accumulates up the food chain.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions about Mercury (from the EPA website).

Click here to read advice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Women Who Might Become Pregnant, Women Who are Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, and Young Children.

3 Safety Tips for selecting and eating fish or shellfish

In the Environment

Mercury can be released in the environment from natural sources, such as volcanic and geothermal activity, marine environments or forest fires, or it can be released from anthropogenic (man-made) sources like coal-fired power plants and other industrial activities. Recent studies suggest that human activity contributes 50-70% of the mercury in the environment globally (EPA Office of Air Quality and Standards Report to Congress, 1997). Once mercury enters the environment, it circulates in and out of the atmosphere until it ends up in the bottoms of lakes and oceans. Mercury is among a group of pollutants called persistent bioaccumulative toxins or PBTs. These pollutants "persist" in the environment, meaning that they do not break down or go away. Mercury cannot be destroyed, it cannot be combusted, and it does not degrade. Mercury also "bioacccumulates" in the environment, meaning it builds up in the food chain over time.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Human Exposure

When mercury is deposited in waterways, bacteria convert it to methylmercury. Methylmercury builds up in the tissue of fish, which may then be eaten by wildlife (e.g., eagles, osprey, common loons, river otters, minks) and by people. Because mercury is tightly bound to the fish muscle tissue, there is no method of cooking or preparation that will remove or reduce mercury once it is in fish. This doesn't mean that you should stop eating fish. It is a good source of protein and is low in saturated fat. You can still get the benefits of eating fish by using moderation in how much you eat. The two organ systems most likely affected by methylmercury are the central nervous system and the kidneys. The groups most vulnerable to the effects of mercury toxicity include women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children. The most significant concerns regarding chronic exposure to low concentrations of methylmercury in fish are for neurological effects in the developing fetus and children.

Although human exposure to mercury occurs most frequently through eating contaminated fish, other human exposures to mercury can occur. People have been exposed to mercury from inhaling mercury vapors from broken fluorescent lamps, gas regulators, or even home fever thermometers. There have been cases of mercury exposures from accidental swallowing, but these cases are rare.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Health Effects

Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring metal found throughout the environment. It is a liquid at room temperature, combines easily with other metals and expands and contracts evenly with temperature changes. Because of these properties, mercury has been used in many household, medical and industrial products. Although mercury performs many useful functions in our workplaces and homes, it is toxic and can impair our health. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, meaning that it interferes with the way nerve cells function. Mercury poisoning causes a decreased ability to see, hear, talk and walk. It can cause personality changes, depression, irritability, nervousness, and the inability to concentrate. It can also cause damage to the brain, kidneys, and lungs. Mercury is a particularly serious problem for pregnant women and children. Fetuses and young children suffer the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing. They are four to five times more sensitive to mercury than adults.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Background

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic chemicals comprising 209 individual chlorinated biphenyl compounds (known as congeners). Exposure to each of these compounds is associated with different levels of risk for harmful effects. There are no known natural sources of PCBs. Although PCBs are no longer manufactured in the United States, people can still be exposed to them. The two main sources of exposure to PCBs are the environment and the workplace. Due to resistance to degradation, PCBs persist in the environment for decades.

Recent studies conducted in the Great Lakes basin indicate that a) fish consumption remains the major route of exposure to PCBs and b) health consequences are associated with these exposures. The following summary identifies those groups at risk because of exposure to PCBs and summarizes recently published information on exposure, sociodemographics, and health findings for these groups.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Human Exposure

Several occupational or epidemiologic studies have indicated or demonstrated other adverse health effects from exposure to PCBs, including cancer and effects on the cardiovascular, hepatic, immune, musculoskeletal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and dermal systems. Kreiss et al. (1981) have reported a 30% increase over the national average incidence of borderline and definite hypertension observed in a population from Triana, Alabama. Increased serum PCB levels were significantly associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The relationship between serum PCB levels and systolic blood pressure disappeared when serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were considered, but the association between PCB and diastolic blood pressure remained significant. Consumption of contaminated fish was considered the primary source of PCB exposure.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Health Effects

Recent findings indicate that susceptible populations (e.g., certain ethnic groups, sport anglers, the elderly, pregnant women, children, fetuses, and nursing infants) continue to be exposed to PCBs via fish and wildlife consumption. Human health studies discussed in this summary indicate that: 1) repro-ductive function may be disrupted by exposure to PCBs; 2) neurobehavioral and developmental deficits occur in newborns and continue through school-aged children who had in utero exposure to PCBs; 3) other systemic effects (e.g., self-reported liver disease and diabetes, and effects on the thyroid and immune systems) are associated with elevated serum levels of PCBs; and 4) increased cancer risks, e.g., non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, are associated with PCB exposures.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)
Selenium
Background

Selenium is a naturally occurring substance that is toxic at high concentrations but is also a nutritionally essential element. Hydrogen selenide is the most acutely toxic selenium compound. Acute (short-term) exposure to elemental selenium, hydrogen selenide, and selenium dioxide by inhalation results primarily in respiratory effects, such as irritation of the mucous membranes, pulmonary edema, severe bronchitis, and bronchial pneumonia. Epidemiological studies of humans chronically (long-term) exposed to high levels of selenium in food and water have reported discoloration of the skin, pathological deformation and loss of nails, loss of hair, excessive tooth decay and discoloration, lack of mental alertness, and listlessness. Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse association between selenium levels in the blood and cancer occurrence and animal studies have reported that selenium supplementation, as sodium selenate, sodium selenite, and organic forms of selenium, results in a reduced incidence of several tumor types. The only selenium compound that has been shown to be carcinogenic in animals is selenium sulfide, which resulted in an increase in liver tumors from oral exposure. EPA has classified elemental selenium as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity, and selenium sulfide as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Human Exposure

Food is the primary source of exposure to selenium, with an estimated selenium intake for the U.S. population ranging from 0.071 to 0.152 milligrams per day (mg/d). ⁽¹⁾

Humans are usually exposed to very low levels of selenium in air, with an average selenium concentration estimated to be below 10 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3). ⁽¹⁾

Drinking water usually contains selenium at very low levels (usually less than 0.01 milligrams per liter [mg/L]). However, occasionally, higher levels of selenium may be found in drinking water, usually in areas where high levels of selenium in soil contribute to the selenium content of the water. ⁽¹⁾

Occupational exposure to selenium in the air may occur in the metal industries, selenium-recovery processes, painting, and special trades. ⁽¹⁾

Assessing Personal Exposure

Selenium can be measured in the blood, urine, and fingernails or toenails of exposed individuals.
⁽¹⁾

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

Health Effects

Acute Effects:

Acute exposure of humans via inhalation to selenium compounds (selenium dioxide, hydrogen selenide) results primarily in respiratory effects. Acute inhalation exposure to elemental selenium dust results in irritation of the mucous membranes in the nose and throat, producing coughing, nosebleeds, dyspnea, bronchial spasms, bronchitis, and chemical pneumonia. ⁽¹⁾

Gastrointestinal effects including vomiting and nausea; cardiovascular effects; neurological effects such as headaches and malaise; and irritation of the eyes were reported in humans acutely exposed to selenium compounds via inhalation. ⁽¹⁾

Acute human exposure to selenium compounds via the oral route has resulted in pulmonary edema and lesions of the lung; cardiovascular effects such as tachycardia; gastrointestinal effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain; effects on the liver; and neurological effects such as aches, irritability, chills, and tremors. ^(1,2)

"Blind staggers" disease is a disease in livestock that results from acute consumption of plants high in selenium. It is characterized by impaired vision, aimless wandering behavior, reduced consumption of food and water, and paralysis. ^(1,2,4)

Acute animal tests in rats, mice, and guinea pigs, have shown hydrogen selenide to have extreme toxicity from inhalation exposure, sodium selenite to have extreme toxicity from oral exposure, and elemental selenium to have low toxicity from oral exposure. ^(1,3)

Click Here for more Information (from the ATSDR web site)

References:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Selenium (Update). Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1996.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Final Draft for the Drinking Water Criteria Document for Selenium. Criteria and Standards Division. Office of Drinking Water, Washington, D.C. 1986.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on Selenium and Compounds. National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C. 1999.

Eat Fish, Choose Wisely
Safe Eating Guideline for fish you catch
Waterbody	County	Contaminant	Species	Pregnant Women & Children *4 oz. meals/month	Adults 8 oz. meals/month
Calf Creek Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Garfield	Mercury	Brown Trout	2	2
Desolation Canyon Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Carbon	Mercury	Catfish	1	2
East Fork Sevier River between Otter Creek and Piute Reservoirs	Piute	Mercury	Brown Trout	Avoid Consumption	2
Gunlock Reservoir Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Washington	Mercury	Largemouth Bass	1	2
Joe's Valley Reservoir Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Emery	Mercury	Splake Trout (greater than 12")	Avoid Consumption	1
Jordanelle Reservoir Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Wasatch	Mercury	Brown Trout Smallmouth Bass	1 Avoid Consumption	2 2
Lower Ashley Creek drainage & Stewart Lake	Uintah	Selenium	Fish/Ducks	Avoid Consumption	No more than 1 6 oz. serving/month
Mill Creek Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Grand	Mercury	Brown Trout	1	3
Newcastle Reservoir Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Iron	Mercury	Rainbow Trout	Avoid Consumption	1
Pine Creek	Garfield	Mercury	Brown Trout	Avoid Consumption	2
Porcupine Reservoir	Cache	Mercury	Brown Trout	Avoid Consumption	1
Rock Creek below Upper Stillwater Reservoir	Duchesne	Mercury	Brown Trout (greater than 12")	Avoid Consumption	2
Sand Hollow Reservoir	Washington	Mercury	Largemouth Bass	Avoid Consumption	2
Silver Creek Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Summit	Arsenic	Trout	1	3
Upper Enterprise Reservoir Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Washington	Mercury	Rainbow Trout	Avoid Consumption	1
Utah Lake Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Utah	PCBs	Carp Catfish	Avoid Consumption	.5
Weber River Fact Sheet Health Consultation Document	Morgan	Mercury	Brown Trout	Avoid Consumption	2

One can also consult the clearinghouse site for a detailed map with areas of concerns highlighted and for answers to frequently asked questions. The message, however, is not one of fear or panic about fish consumption, but rather be informed and make safe food choices.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

New York State Bar Takes Stand Against Tort Reform

Bret Hanna — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:33:10 GMT

The New York State Bar Association took a strong stand against tort reform last Friday. President Michael Getnick issued a statement calling on the U.S. Senate to reject calls for caps on pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice cases as part of health care reform. Here is the press release:

ALBANY, NY (11/13/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Bar Association President Michael E. Getnick (Getnick Livingston Atkinson & Priore, LLP and of counsel to Getnick & Getnick of New York City), in a letter today, called on the U.S. Senate to reject any proposals that would discriminate against medical malpractice victims while also jeopardizing public safety by capping the amount of compensation that victims could receive for pain and suffering. Such proposals have been raised in the debate over national health care reform legislation.

In his letter to U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand, President Getnick restated the State Bar's long-held position that the authority to change medical liability laws should rest with the states and not the federal government.

"As Senate activity on this topic continues, I want to reiterate our long standing objections to those tort and medical malpractice reform proposals that have resurfaced as part of the current debate," wrote Getnick. "We object to legislation to cap pain and suffering compensation for victims of medical malpractice. Such caps would unjustly discriminate against classes of accident victims who suffer devastating physical and psychological losses.

"For over 200 years the authority to promulgate medical liability laws has rested with the states, which are the repository of experience and expertise in these matters," Getnick noted in the letter. "I am pleased that the House, in passing Bill 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, refrained from including provisions advocated by some members that would have resulted in federal tort laws encroaching upon the authority of the states."

Getnick noted that legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives would provide for incentive payments to states that adopt alternative medical liability laws without imposing caps on damages and other unacceptable measures. According to Getnick, providing such incentive payments to states is an appropriate alternative to proposals that would impair the ability of victims to seek remedy in the justice system.

"In assessing the current tort system, it is at least as important to consider the victims of malpractice in comparison to those who cause them personal injury," he said. "We have seen in the past that the attack of tort reformers is a movement that favors cost savings over quality and that emphasizes the corporate bottom line over safety of the public.

"As the health care debate progresses with you and your colleagues in the Senate we strongly urge Congress to focus on health care problems and to ensure that the individual victims of medical malpractice are not placed in a secondary position as compared to those who have created the very victims from which they seek protection in the name of tort reform," Getnick concluded.

A copy of the letter can be found here. This very public support for the civil justice system and the rights of those injured by medical malpractice should be applauded and endorsed by Bar Associations across the country. In addition, all citizens interested in preserving their rights should contact their senators and convey the same message.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna

Silver Eagle Refinery Voluntarily Shuts Down

Bret Hanna — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:55:06 GMT

The Silver Eagle Refinery located in Woods Cross has agreed to follow a safety board recommendation to shut down indefinitely in the wake of a November 4th explosion. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has been at the refinery since the explosion which damaged the plant and several nearby homes. The current investigation is on the heels of the board's investigation of a flash fire at the same refinery in January that severely burned two contractors.

The specific current concern is with the integrity of the pipes and processing units that run throughout the refinery. The recent explosion, which was powerful enough to knock at least one home in an adjacent neighborhood off its foundation, was caused by the rupture of one such highly pressurized pipes. The significant thinning of the pipe that caused the rupture was not detected by the refinery's mechanical integrity program.

The Silver Eagle Refinery is Utah's smallest with daily output of 8,500 barrels of processed crude oil, but 60 employees are affected by the closure. The refinery will not reopen until all pipes and processes are inspected and necessary repairs are made. Meanwhile, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board also has a current investigation open into an October 21st fire at the nearby Tesoro refinery.

Refineries in Utah are concentrated in one area just north of Salt Lake City along the congested and heavily traveled Interstate 15 corridor. Local communities have also allowed high density residential development in the areas adjacent to the refineries, so local residents literally live in the back yards of the refineries. Because so many people travel and live in the danger zones, and because worker safety has to be put first, safety must be the highest priority of the refineries and the agencies that regulate them. The refineries have dodged bullets recently insofar as no one has been killed by the fires and explosions, but let's hope all involved are taking a hard look at the refinery operations to ensure that future injuries, deaths and property damage do not occur.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bret Hanna