resulted in severe PCB contamination of the sediments--reportecny more than 

 lOOX greater than any other major river system (Sloan et al. 1983). Edible 

 portions of fish collected from this area often exceeded the FDA tolerance 

 level of 5.0 ppm fresh weight (Sloan et al . 1983). Carcich and Tofflemire 

 (1982) estimated that more than 272,000 kg (perhaps as much as 603,000 kg) of 

 PCBs were discharged into the River, and that most still resides in sediments 

 north of Troy, New York. In the Hudson River, levels of higher chlorinated 

 PCB components typical of Aroclor 1254 have stabilized during 1977 to 1981, 

 suggesting that a dynamic equilibrium has been reached, and that these 

 compounds may continue to exist at concentrations close to present levels 

 (Sloan et al. 1983). Removal of PCB contaminated sediments by dredging from 

 the Hudson River is now being studied, with greatest effort confined to the 

 most highly contaminated 8% of the river bed. Disposal, by total containment 

 and isolation of contaminated materials within a land burial facility, is one 

 of the more preferred options (Carcich and Tofflemire 1982). 



35 



