9. PCB Pollution in the Hudson
Sign reminding anglers to catch and release on the Upper
Hudson River
Though PCB discharges to the Hudson ended in 1977, significant amounts of this toxic chemical are still found in the river's sediments. PCBs build up to high concentrations in animals and fish, high enough to damage wildlife and fish, and to harm people who eat them. In the upper Hudson (the 20-mile segment between Hudson Falls and Troy) PCB contamination requires that anglers practice catch and release fishing.
The US Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing a cleanup of PCBs in the upper Hudson River. The cleanup is expected to begin in 2009.
