The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, has received a $6.5 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant to monitor pollutants in Great Lakes fish over the next five years.
The grant continues funding for the university’s surveillance program to monitor Great Lakes fish for contamination from legacy pollutants such as PCBs, banned pesticides, mercury and from emerging chemicals of concern like flame retardants and personal care products.
In collaboration with other state and federal programs, Clarkson University will use EPA’s grant to develop state-of-the-art capability to identify and quantify pollutants in fish. The university will also expand the list of target chemicals to assess contaminant transfer through the food chain. This work will result in a clearer picture of the impact of human activity on the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative resources are used to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Information about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is available at: http://www.glri.us/.
source: U.S Environmental Protection Agency