Public Health



	Do the Bay's waters pose health risks to swimmers and surfers? Are fish caught in the Bay safe to consume? These are some of the most important questions addressed by the Bay Restoration Plan. The answers depend mostly on factors like where and when water contact activities occur and what seafood species are consumed. To answer the first question, in 1996 the SMBRP completed the first large-scale epidemiologic study in the nation to investigate and provide a linkage between increased illnesses in swimmers and surfers and proximity to areas with contaminated runoff. The study's findings indicated that swimming or surfing within one hundred yards of a flowing storm drain increases the risk of illness. However, water contact in areas not adjacent to flowing storm drains is generally safe and does not increase the likelihood of illness. In short, at least 90% of the Bay's beaches are safe for swimming and surfing during the summer (or dry season). In addition to areas adjacent to flowing storm drains, there are several other "hot spots" in the Bay with high bacterial indicator counts and the potential presence of enteric viruses: Surfrider Beach exhibits increased bacterial counts when the Malibu Lagoon is breached Topanga Lagoon Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey The Bay's major piers, including those located in Santa Monica, Venice and Redondo Beach. To help protect the health of bathers and surfers, California has developed statewide standards for beach water quality and protocols for notifing the public of potential risks. The new standards require city and county health agencies to monitor water quality at popular beaches that are adjacent to flowing storm drains from April 1 to October 31. Water quality is tested weekly for bacterial indicators (total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus). If state standards for bacterial indicators are not met, health officials are required to post or close the beach with standarized warning signs. Over the past several years, local agencies have taken actions to help improve the Bay's water quality and minimize health risks to swimmers and surfers. For example, during the dry season (April - October), the flows of some of the watershed's most polluted storm drains are diverted to treatment facilities prior to discharge into the Bay. The Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles partnered to build a state-of-the-art storm water treatment facility near Santa Monica Pier to treat and reuse up to 500,000 gallons per day of polluted runoff that would otherwise be discharged directly into the Bay. Local agencies are improving sewer lines, sewage spill control/response times, and investigating and correcting malfunctioning septic systems. In areas where problems continue, signs are posted to warn swimmers of potential health risks, and lifeguards actively encourage swimmers to steer clear. To protect their health, Bay swimmers and surfers should stay at least 100 yards away from flowing storm drains, heed posted warning signs, and avoid swimming in the ocean for three days following a storm event. As long as swimmers abide by these suggestions, the Bay's waters should be considered safe for swimming. Eating Bay Seafood The potential health risk associated with eating Bay seafood is a major public concern. Such concern stems from reports that certain local sportfish are contaminated from historic deposits of contaminants such as DDT and PCBs (known carcinogens), predominantly on the Palos Verdes Shelf. From 1947 to the early 1970s, the Montrose Chemical Corporation, at its former plant near Torrance, discharged wastewater-containing DDT into sewers leading to the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP). That plant then discharged treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean off the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Several other industries discharged PCBs, a group of toxic chemicals, into the same sewer system. Much of the DDT and PCBs settled on the ocean floor, creating a 17-square-mile zone of contaminated sediment. Although disposal of these chemicals ceased in the early 1970s, and the manufacture of DDT in the U.S. has since been banned, both chemicals are very stable and persist in the environment. Bottom-feeding fish in these waters have accumulated DDT and PCBs in their bodies. White croaker, commonly called Kingfish or Tomcod, remains one of the most contaminated fish species in the areas around Point Vicente, White's Point, and Cabrillo Pier. Fish that prey upon contaminated fish or other organisms in the area may also have these chemicals in their bodies. While it is impossible to remove the contaminated species from the Bay, much can be done to educate the public about the health risks associated with eating white croaker and other affected species. In fact, educational outreach is already being conducted by several government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the Bay Commission. The EPA has also initiated a pilot program to cap the contaminated sediments with clean sediment in some of the most contaminated areas of the Palos Verdes Shelf. Close monitoring of the pilot caps will be conducted over the next several years and their effectiveness as a tool to reduce the amount of DDT and PCBs entering the food chain will be thoroughly evaluated. In addition to avoiding White croaker caught near the Palos Verdes Peninsula, consumers should limit their consumption of certain other species. Sculpin, Surf perch, Kelp bass, and Walleye should be eaten less frequently and in smaller amounts. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has prepared a brochure that gives recommendations on which fish to avoid or limit as well as preparation advice. Download Advisories on Sport Fish Consumption in California (PDF) or visit OEHHA's website.