4. Industry - Industry can be, and often is, a contributing parti- 

 cipant in identifying potential contaminants that must be 

 assessed before they are marketed. CNFRL has worked closely 

 with one chemical company in initial toxicity assessment of com- 

 pounds that are being considered as PCB replacements. Results 

 have been encouraging, and we believe this working relationship 

 between government and industry to be highly desirable. 



There are other sources from which we get leads or indications as to the 

 contaminants of highest potential concern (e.g., academia, monitoring pro- 

 grams, conservation groups, etc.). 



The important point is that there is no paucity of contaminants and con- 

 taminant problems. The possibilities far exceed our potential in manpower, 

 funds, and time to address them in detail. So it is incumbent upon us to 

 identify and locate the populations and habitats that are most important to 

 us, whether they be highly vulnerable and pristine, threatened or endan- 

 gered, or of sport, commercial or aesthetic value. Only by ordering our re- 

 sources into categories of priority can we assess the relevancy and scope of 

 contaminant-resource interactions, and thereby make more meaningful manage- 

 ment and research decisions. It does not matter whether the potential con- 

 taminant is an organophosphate, a dioxin, toxaphene, or crude oil. What 

 does matter is whether that substance will adversely affect, directly or in- 

 directly, a valued resource. 



Traditionally, we have oriented our efforts toward studying the chemical 

 and its effects under highly controlled conditions. Emphasis has been on 

 anticipating contaminants which may have highly detrimental effects because 

 of their toxicity, distribution, or disposal. We are now putting greater 

 emphasis on assessing the resource-contaminant interaction. We want to 

 better consider the potential availability of the toxic contaminant to the 

 fish and wildlife resources that have been identified as being of high 

 priority. 



PCBs are known pollutants of the Upper Mississippi River, and in some 

 areas their residues are alarmingly high. In 1971, commercial fishermen 

 harvested 31.5 million pounds of fish from this productive stream. The ex- 

 tent, distribution and ecological significance of PCB residues in prime 

 fish and diving duck habitats of the Upper Mississippi River have not yet 

 been determined. Our field laboratory at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, is under- 

 taking studies to describe the movement and fate of PCBs in productive 

 fishery and wildlife habitat downstream from a major municipal 'source. 

 Toxicity and bioconcentration of PCBs in aquatic biota is being studied to 

 assess the relative hazard of these contaminants in the environment. 



Through contact with fish and wildlife management personnel, our field 

 research scientists are focusing on several broad areas of concern with 

 respect to contaminant problems. Some of the topics relate to energy, 

 including petroleum pollution, but numerous non-energy related contaminant 

 poblems also require attention. 



