Chemist: Oysters contain 1.25% (12,500 ppm) hydrocarbons near MS River Delta

Testing Results Returning With High Levels: Wilma Subra, chemist and president of soil testing company, Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), August 30, 2010:

Results of sampling performed by the Lower Mississippi River Keeper in the Lower Atchafalaya Bay area on August 2, 2010

East of Oyster Bayou, LA:

• Soil: 378 mg/kg Hydrocarbons and six Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (0.222 mg/kg)
• Oiled vegetation: 2.3% Hydrocarbons and 31 PAHs (0.554 mg/kg)
• Fiddler & Blue Crab: 2,230 mg/kg hydrocarbons
• Oysters: 8,815 mg/kg Hydrocarbons

Results of sampling performed by the Lower Mississippi River Keeper in the Mississippi River Delta on August 3, 2010

Mouth of Pass-a-Loutre:

• Sediment contained 71 mg/kg Hydrocarbons and 14 PAHs (0.8713 mg/kg)
• Muscles: 6,900 mg/kg Hydrocarbons and seven PAHs (0.386 mg/kg)
• Oysters: 12,500 mg/kg (1.25%) Hydrocarbons and two PAHs (0.063 mg/kg)
• Sandy soil: 29 to 38 PAHs (3.7259 to 3.934 mg/kg)
• Soil from vegetation behind beach: 0.4 to 1.16 % Hydrocarbons, and 20 to 40 PAHs (49 to 189 mg/kg)

Read the article here.

For 'Mass Concentration': mg/kg = ppm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parts-per_notation