contaminants

SFU study tracks chemical exposure for juvenile Chinook salmon

By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer The diet of a juvenile Chinook salmon doesn’t normally contain cocaine. But in the Lower Fraser River, these fish are being exposed to a myriad of chemicals, toxins, and substances such as cocaine, alongside other “pharmaceuticals and personal care products, [as well as] pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, flame retardants, and polychlorinated biphenyls.” For humans and salmon alike, these substances are linked to potential harms to growth and disease. According to a recent study headed by SFU doctoral student Bonnie Lo, Harrison Chinook salmon tested for upwards of 368 organic contaminants, 16 of which are considered…

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