229 
Much discussion has addressed the ocean dumping of potential pathogens 
at the 12-Mile Site. This concern is unfounded in light of NOAA- 
funded mass loading estimates that greater than 99 percent of the 
coliform bacteria (which are used as indicators of pathogens) enter 
the Bight at the shoreline much closer to urban populations via 
municipal wastewaters and urban runoff. In comparison, the combined 
barge dumping of sewage sludge, dredge spoil, cellar dirt, industrial 
acids, and chemical wastes were computed to contribute less than one- 
tenth of one percent of the coliform bacteria to the Bight, at dis- 
tances at least five nautical miles from the shore. 
Concern has been voiced over the presence of large amounts of 
pollutants in tissues of fish and shellfish in the New York Bight. 
Analysis of data collected by NOAA under the Microconstituents Program 
could show no significant differences in pollutant levels in several 
important commercial fish species (winter flounder, scup, grey sea- 
trout, Atlantic mackerel, bluefish, and striped bass) collected from 
the New York Bight, Georges Bank, or an area 200 miles due east from 
the Bight. A NMFS-Sandy Hook study concluded, after many years of 
research, that the only statistically different tissue levels in New 
York Bight were those of silver in the red crab. None of the tissue 
levels observed even approached FDA action levels for fish tissue 
levels. A halt to the disposal of sewage sludge is not anticipated to 
result in any significant decrease in tissue concentrations of pollu- 
tants as sewage sludge contributes only a very small percentage of 
constituent inputs to the New York Bight. 
