PERCH Project: Environmental Health Studies in Northwest Florida

CDC Grant R01 EH000096-1; August 17, 2005 to August 16, 2006

Principal Investigator: Dr. K. Ranga Rao

Task Leaders: Dr. Natalie Karouna-Renier and Dr. Richard A. Snyder

For this project we will collect largemouth bass from area ponds and lakes and analyze the tissue for mercury, dioxins, and PCBs. Both private and public ponds and lakes in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will be sampled. Although we have already identified a number of the ponds/lakes that will be sampled, we are seeking to expand the list of sampling sites by asking private owners to permit sampling in their ponds/lakes. The results of this study will be used to evaluate whether largemouth bass in ponds and lakes in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties carry contaminants at levels that may pose a risk to human consumers. There are currently no data available for these locations that would allow a determination of health risk to humans. The collected data will provide significant information to the public on whether consumption of these popular game fish should be minimized or, conversely, whether the risks from consumption are minimal. Results of analyses will be made available to each pond/lake owner free of charge.

Types of Volunteers Needed: Owners of ponds/lakes in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties.

Types of Samples: Largemouth Bass

Point of Contact: Dr. Richard A. Snyder, Associate Professor, Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation (850) 474-2806.