|
Industry
Report to the Community
Pasminco
Metals-Sulphide Pty. Ltd.
Community Report Extract from Issue 4, Nov 1992
The
Public Health Unit (PHU) conducted a review of research into heavy
metal concentration in fish in Lake Macquarie, in response to
requests from residents.
Furner
(1979) found liver (not flesh) concentration of lead in mullet and
bream to be markedly higher in Cockle Creek samples than for the
rest of Lake Macquarie. Only marginal increases of lead in the
muscle of the same fish was found. This follows research by Wharfe
and Vanden Brock (1977) which notes that heavy metals tend to
accumulate in the soft organs (liver, kidney, spleen).
The
Environment Protection Authority and PHU warned that molluscs and
oysters should not be eaten from any estuary (including Cockle
Creek) entering Lake Macquarie because of possible pesticide
contamination from urban runoff. Commercially grown oysters,
however, do not pose a risk.
|
