Brookhaven National Lab contamination cited as serious health concern for people consuming fish from the Peconic river

[Long Island, NY] The Eastern Long Island Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P in cooperation with Fish Unlimited and Standing for Truth About Radiation (S.T.A.R.) filed a formal petition with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) demanding a fish consumption warning for the Peconic river. The petition is filed in response to the broad and varied range of contamination discharged into the Peconic river by the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the unique danger posed by the combination of the radiation, toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the river. "The cumulative impact of the numerous contaminants and the synergistic effects must be considered with emphasis on the risks to the health of pregnant women and children specifically," stated Dr. Janette Sherman, M.D., a specialist in internal medicine.

"I am greatly concerned about the people consuming fish from the Peconic river due to the impacts from Brookhaven National Laboratory discharges. Large numbers of the people fishing in the Peconic happen to be people of color and large numbers of them are not aware of the dangers from eating these contaminated fish and shellfish. Everything possible must be done to safeguard the health of Eastern Long Island citizens," stated Lucius Ware, President of the Eastern Long Island Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.).

"Since 1950, the nuclear operations at BNL have resulted in discharges that have contained a broad range of contaminants, both radioactive and chemical which is a mixture found at very few other locations in the nation. Unlike other Superfund sites, BNL has been in operation for half a century discharging a broad range of radioactive and chemical contaminants," stated Scott Cullen, Counsel to STAR.

"BNL and the State have acknowledged that there are dangerous contamination levels in fish on the BNL site," stated Bill Smith, Executive Director of Fish Unlimited. "However, they claim that the on-site fish are not a danger because they do not migrate downstream and stay on the property and that claim simply is not true," said Smith. "BNL has turned the Peconic into a cesspool of contamination; the State must now act aggressively to protect the health and environment of Long Islanders instead of catering to the interests of BNL," stated Smith.