Deaths linked to dieldrin

AN environmental campaigner claims toxins from at least 13 old dumpsites contributed to the recent deaths of dolphins in the Swan River.

National Toxics Network secretary and Bassendean resident Lee Bell told the Eastern Suburbs Reporter there was no control over what was dumped.

Mr Bell said two of the foreshore dumps were in Maylands, one in Bayswater and another in West Midland.

“If they were closed down before 1986 they will be a mix of industrial and domestic waste, such as fertiliser ash, but it’s mainly the demolition waste that would contribute the pesticide dieldrin,” Mr Bell said.

“And it’s not just the dumps; it’s the drains from roads and industrial areas that add (pollution).”

Last month, autopsies at Murdoch University on four of six dolphins found in the river from June to October had some of the highest recorded levels of dieldrin found in marine mammals worldwide.

Dieldrin, banned in WA for more than 20 years, collects in fatty tissues and lymph nodes and affects reproduction and immune systems.

The autopsies also found extremely high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT in the mammals.

In February, a Water Corporation report on the Swan and Canning catchment drainage system found organochlorines, such as dieldrin, at more than 80 test drains in the Swan and Canning river catchments were at levels consistently above guideline limits.

“(Organochlorines) have serious short-term and long-term effect at low concentrations,” the report said.

“How is it that the dolphins have toxins in them that are comparable to the highest levels in the world, such as pollution in the former Communist Bloc?” Mr Bell asked.

Mr Bell said the dumps had not been widely monitored. “Because of the cost, successive governments have failed to resource the Swan River Trust to monitor these sites comprehensively,” he said.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher was unavailable when asked to respond to Mr Bell’s criticisms.

However, the minister said recently that the Swan River Trust, Department of Environment and Conservation and Murdoch and Curtin universities would continue to monitor the dolphins living in the Swan Canning Riverpark.

Ms Faragher said possible causes of the deaths could be due to factors such as long-term exposure to contaminants and seasonal changes in water quality.

What everyone else is thinking

heather

10/02/2010

I think it is time for everyone, all Australians to say enough is enough.
The Government is responsible.
It is time to clean up the river, the lakes and the inlets.
Lets all get involved. Has anyone noticed all the animals are dying, over 100 species a day are becomming extinct.
Guess what, Humans are animals.

Rose

09/02/2010

As a child I swam in many areas of the Swan River. I live close to the river now but don't allow my children to swim in it. What a shame we are letting down the generations that follow us. We are so quick to advertise our great lifestyle here in Perth, but what do we do to try and maintain the environment we live in?

Tara

04/02/2010

I hate to think what the deep dredging in fremantle is doing

jan

30/11/2009

priority CONCERN.....

C_T

Perhaps the chemicals are leaching into the river but maybe they are still being dumped in the river.

My guess is there are various companies/ organisations (government & other) that have and still are contributing to this problem.

Tony

Both Tasmania and Scotland are of simlar size, so if either has a significant downpour,- the water, disperses outward to the Oceans around.
The Swan River Catchment, is also a similar size. Rather than dispersing sediment, toxic and otherwise, it collects it, collates it, and stores it in
natural Sedimentary layer, dependant on the weight of the item.
It is when such layers are disturbed, and access gained to the level where Deildrin, PCBS or other heavy metals would otherwise "safely" accumulate that is the problem..
It might be a Cutting into a foreshore, It might be a large pipe discharging a flow, that disturbs the riverbed - but once done, and the toxic layers are disturbed, - they will continue to leach out particularly from that point, until rectified..In the meantime, the dolphins will continue to serve as our CANARIES, until such Cuttings are covered, and
the outlets of such pipes are modified to reduce the powerful force at each singular outlet..