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Marine life in Santa Monica Bay is facing a continuing threat from heavy metals released underwater after the Palisade fire in January, according to water quality test results reported Thursday.
Environment-focused nonprofit organization Heal The Bay has set up 10 collection sites along the full length of Santa Monica Bay and conducted water quality tests in January and February.
Marine mammals, multiple fish populations, and other species further down the food chain are at serious risk from elevated levels of beryllium, copper, chromium, nickel, lead and other harmful heavy metals and nutrients.
Silver, arsenic and zinc were also detected above average marine sanitation limits in 116 known pollutants tested. Heavy metals can destroy important biological processes, damaged cells, and impair the reproductive and immune function of marine organisms.
Although the organization has not safely declared water for human recreational contact, the results show that the water quality of beaches around Los Angeles is far superior to what we expected in terms of the impact on human health of contaminated spills in burn scar areas.
However, metals can also travel through the food chain. This can inevitably affect humans, especially when consuming seafood with a bioaccumulation of metals in the system, Bey said.
According to the Bay, the metal concentration is due to heavy seasonal rains washed into the sea from burnt structures and lands in Pallisad, Topanga and Malibu. The nonprofit is urging authorities to promote the removal of burnt structures and other fire debris from PCH as soon as possible.
“Every day, when dangerous debris remains along the coast, more harmful pollutants flow into the ocean,” said Tracy Quinn, president and CEO of Heal the Bay. “If you want to give marine creatures a chance to fight, you need to remove the fragments as quickly as possible.”
Heal The Bay reminds beachers to be careful to walk on the sand. This could contain sharp fire-related debris like nails or broken glass.
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