General Background and Resources

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) - A fact sheet from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

• Online Safety Library:PCBs - Articles and information collected by Environmental Health & Safety, Oklahoma State University

• "Fooling with Nature: are man-made chemicals in the environment hazardous to humans? What does science know?" - This PBS FRONTLINE special explores the science and politics behind the endocrine disruption hypothesis, a new theory which posits that certain hormone-mimicking chemicals (including PCBs) can disrupt the body's chemistry. The site provides interviews from those participating in the show, special reports, and links to further resources.

• Library Research on Water Quality of the Fox River - Selected guides, encyclopedias, books, articles, Internet sites, and government resources available at Lawrence University's Seeley G. Mudd Library.

• Fish consumption habits and advisory awareness among Fox River anglers- Article from the Wisconsin Medical Journal (2000 Nov; Vol. 99(8), pp. 43-6)

  Abstract: Eating PCB-contaminated fish caught from the Lower Fox River, northeast Wisconsin, has raised concern about the health risk to consumers, especially to children and unborn babies. The fish advisory published by the state of Wisconsin recommends which fish are safe to eat. However, there is reason to believe that many anglers, especially non-English speaking anglers, are not aware of the advisory and the possible health risks of eating contaminated fish. A face-to-face survey administered to 104 anglers fishing along the Fox River indicates that 17% of anglers eat some or all of the fish they catch and that 83% practice "catch and release." Almost all the anglers were not familiar with Wisconsin's fish advisory but had heard of the health risks from their local newspaper and TV. As a follow-up, a fish health advisory brochure specific to the Fox River was developed.

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Government Agencies and Resources

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • The WDNR is managing the Deposit N cleanup project and works with the EPA, local paper companies, and other organizations and agencies in guiding the cleanup process.
  • Lower Fox River Contaminated Sediment Alternatives

• EPA Region 5
  • The EPA's Great Lakes office provides a variety of resources on Air, Water, Toxins, and Waste in the region including documents dealing specifically with the Fox River Cleanup.
  • Fox River Cleanup
  • Fox River Fact Sheet

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Community Organization & Industry web sites devoted to PCB cleanup

• Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin - Organization devoted to water quality issues in Northeast Wisconsin

• Fox River Watch - A project of Clean Water Action Council providing information about PCB health effects, river/bay history and statistics, up todate news articles, PCB chemistry and history, and more.

• Fox River Group - The Fox River Group represents seven paper companies that have been working with the state and federal government to study the environmental impact of PCBs and whose goal is to help determine the best methods of restoration.

• Wisconsin Stewardship Network
  • Conservationists and environmentalists working to build a cooperative environmental network that recaptures and strengthens Wisconsin's stewardship ethic for the betterment of its people and natural resources.
  • Water Resource Page

• Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.
  • Clearwater is an organization that conducts environmental education, advocacy programs, and celebrations to protect the Hudson River.
  • PCB contamination of the Hudson River
  • News & Bulletins

• The Hudson River Dredging Project
  • General Electric sponsored site discussing their role in the Hudson River cleanup.
  • FAQ's (includes an introduction to PCBs)

• The Coalition Opposed to PCB Ash in Monroe County, Inc. (COPA)
  • COPA is dedicated to presenting information concerning the PCB problem in South Central Indiana. Although focusing on the burning of PCBs, the site is a clearinghouse for PCB information and community action resources.
  • Library of PCB-related documents

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Material in the Appleton Public Library Wisconsin Collection

Please note: This list represents just some of the older documents held in our library. Please use our online catalog to view the many documents recently added to our collection. For best results using the online catalog, select "Browse Search" and then copy and paste these subject headings in the Browse for search box : Water--Pollution--Wisconsin--Fox River or Polychlorinated biphenyls--Environmental aspects--Wisconsin--Fox River.

Addendum II Water Quality Management Plan Fox River Valley, Wisconsin
Fox Valley Water Quality Planning Agency, 1982
333.916 Fox Wisconsin Reference

Executive Summary: Water Pollution Studies, Fox River Valley, Wisconsin
Fox Valley Water Quality Planning Agency, 1978
333.916 Fox Wisconsin Reference

Summary of Workshops on the Subject Waste Load Allocations for the Lower Fox River
Fox Valley Water Quality Planning Agency, 1978
333.916 Fox Wisconsin Reference

Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Vols. 2-7, 1987-88; Updates, March/September, 1993
333.916 Low Wisconsin Reference

Lower Green Bay Remedial Action Plan: First Annual Progress Report
UWGB Center for Public Affairs, 1989
333.916 Low Wisconsin Reference

Mercurio, Joann Ceceil
The Fox River Coalition: A Regional Partnership
Dedicated to Cleaning Up Contaminated Sediment and Improving Water Quality in the Fox River Valley
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1995
333.916 Mer Wisconsin Reference

Patterson, Dale
Water Pollution Investigation: Lower Green Bay and Lower Fox River
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1975
333.916 Pat Wisconsin Reference

Patterson, Dale
Water Quality Modeling of the Lower Fox River for Wasteload Allocation Development
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1980/1986
333.916 Pat Wisconsin Reference

Remedial Action Plan 1990 Progress Report for Green Bay and the Fox River
UWGB Center for Public Affairs, 1990
333.916 Rem Wisconsin Reference

St. Amant, James R.
Final Report on the Toxic Substances Survey of Lakes Michigan, Superior, and Tributary Streams
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1983
333.916 Sta Wisconsin Collection

Steuer, Jeffery
A Deterministic PCB Transport Model for the Lower Fox River Between Lake Winnebago and De Pere, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1995
333.916 Ste Wisconsin Reference

Understanding Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Substances in Wisconsin Surface Waters
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1990
333.916 Und Wisconsin Reference

Final Report of the Toxic Substances Task Force on the Lower Fox River System
Wisconsin Toxic Substances Task Force on the Lower Fox River System, 1983
333.916 Wis Wisconsin Reference

Survey of Toxic Chemicals Use and Distribution
Fox Valley Water Quality Planning Agency, 1977
628.168 Fox Wisconsin Reference

Wisconsin Files

• Fox River Coalition
• Fox River, Wisconsin
• Water--Pollution