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pollution ■ f rom Metropolitan New York expanded the area of 

 contamination to the inshore waters of New York and New Jersey, 

 FDA, in joint action with the states, extended the closure 

 in April 1974." (17). In 1970, 101 ships had been harvesting 

 sea clams in the area and these closures have forced them to 

 harvest the sea elsewhere or for other species. 



While fecal coliforms in low concentrations are not 

 pathogenic, they do indicate the presence of other contaminants 

 which may be harmful. Dr. Peter Anderson, Chief of the 

 Marine Protection Branch of EPA's Region II, stated (18) that 

 sewage sludge represents an important source of pathogens 

 (such as bacteria, viral particles, fungi, and parasites) to 

 the Bight Apex. Dr. Anderson notes that EPA has isolated 

 viruses of the picornvirus group from waters at the dumpsite. 

 Viruses of this group comprise the most important group of 

 human pathogens. 



The input of such pathogens to the Bight and the 

 consequent potential for human infection is only one side of 

 the microbe problem. Studies by Timoney (19) have shown that 

 some species of bacteria are resistant to, and may in fact 

 metabolize, metal compounds in sediments. However, in concert 

 with their resistance to metals is a resistance to one or 

 more antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to metals is rare 

 elsewhere in the area. Resistance to antibiotics or to metals 

 in some populations of bacteria "poses a special hazard, 

 since these donors can so readily transfer their genetic 

 capability to so many other bacterial species, including fish 

 pathogens ..." (20). 



28-914 O- 



