Science and Natural History discussion
This topic is about
An Entirely Synthetic Fish
Group Reads
>
August 2012 - An Entirely Synthetic Fish by Anders Halverson *Author Interaction*
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
[deleted user]
(new)
Aug 01, 2012 02:25AM
As with previous group reads, feel free to post your questions, comments and outrages here to share and discuss with other members. Don't forget that the author, Anders Halverson, has kindly offered to interact and answer any queries you may have so do take advantage of the opportunity. Happy reading!
reply
|
flag
I am now reading the part where rotenone was used to poison the Green River. I was wondering if any studies had been done on the people who were exposed to it to see if there was any increased rate of Parkinson's Disease?
I don't think any follow up studies have been done on them. However, this continues to be a controversial issue.Rotenone is still used in many states today, often to eliminate rainbows that were introduced in an earlier era. The scale is much smaller, it's usually done in headwater streams.
Some people support its continued use because it is really the only practical way to get rid of exotics and restore some very endangered fishes. However, others oppose it because of its potential human health impacts and because of its ecological impacts. See for example: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/e...
The human health impacts are questionable. It is used to induce Parkinson's symptoms in lab animals, but at much, much higher doses than anyone would experience from their drinking supply if rotenone were used upstream.
On the other hand, rotenone is used by agricultural workers as a pesticide and there is one recent study that shows these applicators are more likely to get Parkinsons. See: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb201...
Mod
Read the book, probably wouldn't have hadn't it been a group read here; so thanks! Figured it might be an idea to tag the book so the discussion shows up on the end of the book page, a somewhat little used feature here at Goodreads. (Doesn't appear to have worked yet, ah: only opening author can do it completely)
Unfortunately I don't really have any questions in mind.
QuestionWhat drugs are used to aid in the survival of hatchery fish? Antibiotics? Are the drugs in the hatchery water released into rivers and streams? If so, what effects does it have on other life forms such as amphibians?
Hi Florence,Yes, they do use antibiotics. And yes, it can be an issue. I am not aware of any studies on amphibians in particular. But there is plenty of concern about the human health impacts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the water downstream from fish hatcheries.
The effluent can also other effects on the system. It can be warmer, have less dissolved oxygen, and have higher levels of nutrients, metabolites like ammonia, and particulate matter. They can also be sources of disease. I imagine these things might be of more concern to the amphibians and other native organisms downstream.
On the other hand, as far as I know, all hatcheries subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act and often by state laws as well.
Hi Kristoffer,Thanks for the post and the suggestion. I just went to the book page and I see the place for initiating a discussion. However, I couldn't figure out a way to link this discussion directly to it. Maybe we should have started the discussion there instead of here?
I'll keep working on it.
Anders
Mod
Thanks for the post and the suggestion. I just went to the book page and I see the place for initiating a discussion. However, However, I couldn't figure out a way to link this discussion directly to it. Maybe we should have started the discussion there instead of here?
I figured it out. It is done by opener and is doable by a moderator afterward. As it is now it is on the list of topics that mention it along with your topic at Fly Fish Literati.
It is done simply placing the book in the " This topic is about" field at the opening of a discussion. I'll suggest it as common practice to Thon. Simple and underused feature.
