01:52 PM PST on Saturday, February 5, 2005

By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News

SEATTLE – The majestic orcas of Puget Sound have long carried the unfortunate reputation as being among the most contaminated of all killer whales.

Researchers who are trying to figure out the reason concentrated a new study on what the whales eat.

New study results have just been compiled and when added to the existing studies, these new numbers leave no doubt any more about the levels of dangerous PCBs in Puget Sound.

KING

New numbers leave no doubt about the levels of dangerous PCBs in Puget Sound.

This information may lead to new advice on human consumption of Puget Sound salmon.

The Chinook salmon help to tell the story and the story is not a happy one.

"On average for Puget Sound salmon, ours are about three times more contaminated for PCB's," said Sandy O'Neill, Washington Fish & Wildlife researcher.

"This was actually a killer whale study, southern resident whale study, but from that data, we can glean some information," said Gina Ylitalo, Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

Most notably, Puget Sound itself has a major PCB problem.

This new study compares fish that lived their whole lives in Puget Sound with those that travel through it and those that never been here.

The PCB levels in resident fish is consistently much higher than the others'.

And because PCBs are persistent chemicals that have adverse health affects on anything that consumes them, many species may have a problem.

State health investigators say they are not about to suggest that Puget Sound PCB levels are so high they want people to stop eating Puget Sound Chinook, but they do say these new numbers may convince them it's time to issue new advice on how much and what kinds of salmon we should eat.

And while there is much studying to be done, the resident salmon are casting an icy finger at the health of the Puget Sound.

Researchers say they are awaiting tests on salmon captured from more areas outside Puget Sound, but if the trend stands, Puget Sound Chinook will again surface as among the most contaminated in the region.

The EPA says our Chinook salmon is still safe to eat, but when you prepare it, it's best to remove the skin. That gets rid of some of the fate where the PCB's can collect. Frying is the worst thing to do. To get rid of the maximum amount of PCB's, broil the fish.