Say goodbye to those noxious odors coming from Shellbank BasinStratification is the term scientists use to describe this separation, and for the past seven years DEP has been testing a technique to reverse this process, aptly called destratification. Destratification has been used effectively in other lakes and reservoirs to vertically mix water bodies and prevent undesirable water quality conditions from occurring.
CB 10 backs facility for Shellbank Basin - By Howard Koplowitz - 04/12/2007
The DEP has plans to build what it calls the Shellbank Basin Destratification Facility by acquiring 2,000 square feet of the Starbucks parking lot at 157-41 Cross Bay Blvd. The basin runs adjacent to Cross Bay Boulevard from 157th Avenue to 165th Avenue before it merges into Jamaica Bay. (Read more...)
Scientists are suggesting a common cause for two seemingly unrelated events, the feminization of fish in Jamaica Bay, where the former 50-50 male-to-female ratio has all but disappeared, and enlarged breasts in young boys.
The common factor: endocrine disruptors, chemicals found in detergents, cosmetics and other products of daily living that increasing numbers of scientists now believe play havoc with normal hormone activity.
In the case of Jamaica Bay, the specific endocrine disruptors implicated are NPEs -- chemicals found in waterways worldwide that are used in some laundry detergents and industrial cleaning agents.
"What we found is quite disturbing," said Anne McElroy, a marine scientist at Stony Brook University, referring to the gender change in Jamaica Bay's flounder. "I don't like to be an alarmist, but we have enough data from multiple years showing this effect and the fact that we've been able to recreate it in the lab makes the data pretty solid." (Read more...)
Community Board 10 last week lent its support to the city Department of Environmental Protection's plan to build a facility in Howard Beach that would improve water quality in Shellbank Basin.
The board also approved extending a permit for a BP gas station on Cross Bay Boulevard and learned that the 106th Precinct would be getting a new commanding officer.The DEP has plans to build what it calls the Shellbank Basin Destratification Facility by acquiring 2,000 square feet of the Starbucks parking lot at 157-41 Cross Bay Blvd. The basin runs adjacent to Cross Bay Boulevard from 157th Avenue to 165th Avenue before it merges into Jamaica Bay. (Read more...)
Cleaning agent tied to abnormalities
BY DELTHIA RICKS - Newsday Staff Writer -April 14, 2007Scientists are suggesting a common cause for two seemingly unrelated events, the feminization of fish in Jamaica Bay, where the former 50-50 male-to-female ratio has all but disappeared, and enlarged breasts in young boys.
The common factor: endocrine disruptors, chemicals found in detergents, cosmetics and other products of daily living that increasing numbers of scientists now believe play havoc with normal hormone activity.
The chemicals' residues find their way into Jamaica Bay where the fish live and are contained in the hair gels and shampoos used by the three boys featured in a study this year. After the study, the National Institutes of Health took the extraordinary step of advising doctors to ask patients what kinds of personal-care products they use at home.
In the case of Jamaica Bay, the specific endocrine disruptors implicated are NPEs -- chemicals found in waterways worldwide that are used in some laundry detergents and industrial cleaning agents.
"What we found is quite disturbing," said Anne McElroy, a marine scientist at Stony Brook University, referring to the gender change in Jamaica Bay's flounder. "I don't like to be an alarmist, but we have enough data from multiple years showing this effect and the fact that we've been able to recreate it in the lab makes the data pretty solid." (Read more...)
