Study: Pesticides prevalent in western national parks

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Feb 27, 2008 at 9:34 AM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 27, 2008 at 9:34 AM MDT

BILLINGS - Pesticides, heavy metals and other airborne contaminants are raining down on national parks across the West and into Alaska, causing toxins to accumulate in some fish and wildlife habitat at dangerously high levels.

A sweeping, six-year federal study released Tuesday found evidence of 70 contaminants in 20 national parks and monuments, from Denali in Alaska and Glacier in Montana, down to Big Bend in Texas and Sequoia in California. Observers say the findings underscore some of earth's most pristine locations are still within reach of the toxic byproducts of the industrial age.

The substances found ranged from PCBs and mercury to the banned insecticides dieldrin and DDT. Some contaminants in fish were at levels exceeding human consumption thresholds.

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