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seaward of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary generally are low 

 compared to concentrations in fishes and invertebrates of the 

 Estuary. Based upon existing data, the flesh of organisms 

 collected in Bight waters and commonly found in the human 

 diet contain low levels of PCBs (below the current FDA action 

 level of 5 micrograms per gram, i.e., five parts per million), 

 and present no health hazard to the average person. A recently 

 completed study for the New Jersey Department of Environmental 

 Protection substantiates this with the exception of bluefish 

 ( Pomatomus saltatrix ) ; several specimens taken in the Bight 

 Apex exceeded the FDA action level. Because of the highly 

 migratory nature of this species, body burdens of PCBs cannot 

 be directly associated with areas of capture. 



The incidence of disease in fish and shellfish is elevated 

 in the New York Apex relative to other sites in the mid-Atlantic. 

 Diseases include fin erosion in a range of demersal and pelagic 

 species, ulcers in red hake and skeletal anomalies in shellfish 

 including crabs, lobsters and shrimp. A link has been postu- 

 lated between fin erosion and elevated sediment-PCB levels for 

 Dover sole and starry flounder from the Southern California 

 Bight and Puget Sound areas, respectively. A similar relation- 

 ship has not been demonstrated for fin erosion in flatfishes 

 from the New York Bight. Fre<ruency of fin rot in flatfishes 

 from the Bight region has declined both in impacted and com- 

 parison areas since the early 1970s (Figure 5). The reason 



