What are PCBs?

• PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are chemicals that were used in making electrical parts
• They were linked to health issues in humans and environmental problems and banned in 1979
• Health issues related to PCBs are cancer, reproductive problems, and other issues
• PCBs remain in the environment for a long time because of the time it takes for them to degrade

How do PCBs get in my fish?

• PCBs can get into the air, water, and soil and contaminate bodies of water like lakes and rivers
• The chemicals are found in increasing amounts in bigger fish as they eat smaller fish
• PCBs build up in fat as you go up the food chain and are found in dangerously large quantities

How do I safely prepare contaminated fish?

The safest thing to do is to not eat contaminated fish, but following these steps can reduce risk:

• The head, skin and guts need to be removed and thrown away
• Cut away all of the fat areas
• Cook the fish on a grill or rack so any fat that was not cut away will drip down
• Throw away the fat drippings

Choropleth Map

Choropleth maps portray density variations in different colors per defined geographical units. These types of maps are used for scaled or normalized data and allow for user defined geographical units.

Isarithmic Map

Isarithmic maps use isolines with color coded values displayed in a smooth and continuous manner for a given region. These maps allow for estimations of a variable by correlating it to the band color. They may not be highly specific, but provide an overall appreciation of conditions for the region of interest.

Dot Density Map

Dot density maps use dots assigned with some numerical value to show affected areas of a selected region. They are fairly specific and allow us to discover high accumulations of a variable and where these accumulations are within a given region.

Proportional Symbol Map

Proportional symbol maps use scaled symbols to visualize intensity or density for areas within a selected region. They are effective in providing a quick representation of numerical values, albeit with less detail.

Environmental Sensitivity Index Map

Environmental sensitivity index maps are used to identify resources and ecological elements that may be impacted by an event. They provide useful information about the sensitivity each variable has to the event in question and allows for prioritization when mobilizing limited resources.