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Pollution Decreasing Off US Shores: Study

Past 20 years have seen general contaminant decline

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted May 12, 2008 6:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – Levels of pesticides and other toxic chemicals in US coastal waters are generally decreasing, McClatchy reports. A 20-year study by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Mussel Watch looked at levels of 140 chemicals and found decreasing trends. Laws banning many of the chemicals were passed in the 1970s, but the long process of their disappearance from the environment continues.

"Different regions have different stories," says Gunnar Lauenstein, the program's lead scientist. "But when you look at all the numbers and evaluate them statistically, it shows that on a national basis, concentrations are going down."

A cargo ship passes under the Bay Bridge in the San Francisco bay as seen from the Yerba Buena, Calif, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008.
A cargo ship passes under the Bay Bridge in the San Francisco bay as seen from the Yerba Buena, Calif, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Pollution levels are down in US coastal waters, a study of 20 years of data shows.
Pollution levels are down in US coastal waters, a study of 20 years of data shows.   (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Southern California, which had the highest levels of the pesticide DDT, showed a decline since 1986, a new study shows.
Southern California, which had the highest levels of the pesticide DDT, showed a decline since 1986, a new study shows.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
A cargo ship passes by the San Francisco bay as seen from the Marin Headlands, Calif, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008.
A cargo ship passes by the San Francisco bay as seen from the Marin Headlands, Calif, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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