Lectures on Puget Sound toxicity coming to Western Aug. 2 and 7

The 17th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment invites the public to attend two special sessions on Puget Sound environmental toxicity Aug. 2 to 9 at Western Washington University.

Speakers will present lectures on “Stormwater: From People to Fish to People” Aug. 2, and “Impacts from Transportation of Fossil Fuels in the Salish Sea” Aug. 7, as part of the biennial symposium that brings researchers together to discuss toxicity risks and actions to protect ecological and public health.

• “Stormwater: From People to Fish to People” will examine how toxic stormwater relates to pre-spawn morality in Coho Salmon in the Puget Sound, where the pollutants accumulate in Puget Sound and how these pollutants affect human populations . Speakers will all discuss how to reduce storm water toxicity through low-impact development and engineering. Speakers include Julann Spromberg of Northwest Fisheries Science Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jennifer Lanksbury of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Elaine Faustman, professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at University of Washington, and Ross Dunning of the Seattle-based Kennedy/Jenks Consultants.
• “Impacts from Transportation of Fossil Fuels in the Salish Sea” will cover concerns about fossil fuel transport in Washington State, including the proposed deep-water marine terminal for coal export at Cherry Point in Whatcom County. Presentations will highlight regional research on fossil fuel transport including research that Coast Salish Gathering Tribes and First Nations have been leading.

The cost of each special session is $75. Participants may register for a special session without registering for the full conference.

The symposium will also feature two keynote speakers:

• Tuesday, Aug. 4: Adi Hanein of the Washington State Department of Health on “Marine Biotoxins Trends in Puget Sound, Washington: Changes in Frequency, Distribution, and Impacts on Closure Days”
• Thursday, Aug. 6: Tracy Collier of University of Washington-Tacoma Center for Urban Waters  “Lessons in Toxicity from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill”

To attend a keynote presentation, participants must register for one day or the full conference.

Please visit http://www.wwu.edu/ee/conference/toxicity/welcome.shtmlto find out more information. Registration runs through July 29.