Toxics: Puget Sound’s evolving threat

Coming soon in Salish Sea Currents: Toxics in Puget Sound first came to the prominent attention of the public in the 1980s, when scientists noticed tumors developing in bottom-dwelling fish near the Duwamish River. Headlines read “don’t eat the fish” and people were shocked to find that what they once idealized as a pristine environment was a dumping ground for industrial chemicals. Now, long after places like the Duwamish and the Foss waterways have become superfund sites, the toxic threat to Puget Sound continues to evolve. 

In the next story in our magazine, Sarah DeWeerdt reports on how some of the greatest dangers to Puget Sound marine life come from the toxic byproducts of our common, everyday activities. These incremental sources of pollution are so woven into our lives that they are almost invisible to us, but it’s becoming impossible to ignore their effects. Look for the story in coming weeks.