Petition: Investigate Health Impacts of Southern California Offshore DDT Dumpsite
State Water Resources Control Board: Investigate Health Impacts of Southern California Offshore DDT Dumpsite
We, the undersigned, urge the State Water Resources Control Board to take immediate action to protect the health of California’s communities by studying the impacts of the Southern California offshore DDT dumpsite as new standards are developed for waters that support subsistence fishing beneficial uses.
Decades ago, thousands of barrels worth of the toxic forever-chemical DDT were dumped off the coast of Southern California, creating an environmental and public health hazard that persists to this day. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of DDT contamination in marine sediments and marine life, raising serious concerns about exposure risks, particularly for communities that rely on subsistence fishing. To date, the extent to which the contamination has spread and the impact on marine food webs remains largely unknown, and further research is urgently required.
Many subsistence anglers come from vulnerable communities that face food inequity and other systemic challenges. According to a 2020 study using data from Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program, the top five zip codes of anglers on the piers include Hawthorne, Rosewood, North Long Beach, South Gate, and South El Monte. Many of these communities are classified as environmental justice communities, with populations disproportionately affected by pollution burdens. Fishing on piers itself is an environmental justice concern as it is the most accessible location to fish because it does not require a fishing license, which can present a barrier both through language and finances. As the State Board works to develop water quality standards that account for the needs of subsistence fishers, the long-term health impacts of the DDT dumpsite must be thoroughly studied and addressed. Without this research, policies may fail to protect those most vulnerable to contamination adequately.
We call on the State Water Resources Control Board to:
- Commit to studying the human health impacts of DDT contamination considering the full context of the Palos Verdes Peninsula superfund site and the offshore DDT dumpsite.
- Ensure that new water quality standards for subsistence fishing consider these health risks, including findings on which fish species are being caught and consumed by at-risk communities. Consider the demographics and practices of anglers from Santa Monica to Seal Beach and re-assess the structure, reach, and efficacy of existing intervention programs.
- Prioritize public engagement with impacted communities, including multilingual angler surveys and focus groups with Indigenous community members, ensuring their voices are heard in the policymaking process.
- Engage in government-to-government collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Fish Contamination Education Collaborative, as well as with local Public Health offices, to address public health in the context of superfund site remediation and update and enhance seafood consumption advisories to better protect vulnerable populations.
California has a duty to protect its residents from toxic pollution. By committing to this research and incorporating its findings into new standards, the State Water Board can help safeguard public health and ensure environmental justice for affected communities.