A Summary Of Pollution In The Chesapeake Bay

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In 1968, a survey was conducted. It found that pollution in the Chesapeake Bay cause $3 million annually in losses to the fishing industry. Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of sports fisheries measured DDT, a pesticide, in 584 of 590 samples. These levels were nine times the FDA limit. In 1969 bacteria in the Hudson River was 170 times the safe limit. Over 41 million fish were killed. This included the largest ever with 26 million from four food processing plants in Thonotosassa, Florida dumping discharges into the lake. South of Cleveland, Ohio the Cuyahoga River burst into flames causing damage to railroad trestles. The cause is unknown but investigation pointed to a discharge of highly volatile petroleum derivatives that could ignite easily.

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