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Lower Duwamish Waterway Questions and Answers
An important milestone has been achieved: Lower Duwamish Waterway contamination investigation is complete.
As part of the cleanup process for the Lower Duwamish Waterway, the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG) investigated contamination in the Waterway’s sediments. The investigation answered questions including:
- What contaminants are in the Waterway?
- What areas are most contaminated?
- What risks do those contaminants pose to humans and wildlife?
After seven years of work, the results were described in a document called a Remedial Investigation Report. The report was submitted to EPA and Ecology for their review and approval. EPA and Ecology recently completed their review of the report. They shared many of the concerns expressed by community members who came to a public meeting on November 29, 2007 to learn about the investigation.
EPA and Ecology provided comments to the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group on what revisions must be made to the report. The final Remedial Investigation Report should be ready by early 2009.
Printable Version of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Questions and Answers Fact Sheet (PDF) (6 pp. 122K, About PDF)
Responses to your Questions
To view the answer to a question click on the question to expand the answer, click it again to hide the answer.
 Is it OK to eat salmon from the Duwamish Waterway?
What about other types of fish and shellfish in the Duwamish – can I eat them?
Is it OK to walk and play on public beaches along the Duwamish Waterway?
 What are the most harmful contaminants found in the Duwamish?
There are many chemical contaminants in Duwamish sediment, fish, and shellfish. Most of the human health risk comes from the four chemicals discussed below. While each of these chemicals can be found throughout the Waterway, the largest amounts were found near industrial areas.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are manmade chemicals that were banned in the late 1970s. They stay in the environment for a long time and can build up in fish and shellfish. PCBs are known to impact the immune system and may cause cancer in people who have been exposed over a long time.
Arsenic is naturally present at low levels in Puget Sound area rock and soil. Industrial activities have spread additional arsenic over much of the Puget Sound region. Long-term exposure to toxic forms of arsenic may cause skin, bladder, and other cancers.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed during the burning of substances such as coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage and tobacco and during the charbroiling of meat. Long periods of breathing, eating, or having skin contact with high levels of some of the PAHs may increase a person’s risk of cancer.
Dioxins and furans (dioxins) are by-products of burning (either in natural or industrial settings), chemical manufacturing and metal processing. Dioxins last a long time in the environment and, like PCBs, can build up in fish and fatty foods. Specific toxic effects related to dioxins include reproductive problems, problems in fetal development or in early childhood, immune system damage, and cancer.
What about the wildlife living in or close to the Waterway?
How did EPA and Ecology choose seafood consumption rates to assess risks from chemicals in seafood?
Can we get some of the most contaminated areas cleaned up sooner rather than later?
Why should we try to clean up the river if there is still going to be industry and continuing contamination?
Who pays for all this work?
What were EPA and Ecology’s responses to the draft Remedial Investigation Report?
What happens next?
Where can I learn more? How can I get involved?
Lower Duwamish Waterway Site
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Point of contact: Renée Dagseth
E-Mail: Dagseth.Renee@epa.gov
Phone Number: (206) 553-1889
Last Updated: 06/30/2008
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