Scientists lured to study Allegheny River and its health effects

Scientists studying the Allegheny River are looking for a few good fishermen.

Researchers plan to study tissue from fish taken from the Allegheny to look for toxins and help determine the river's effect on people's health.

The "Stewardship Expedition of the Allegheny River" is led by a team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Healthy Environments and Communities. They will study the river from Tionesta in Forest County to the Point in Pittsburgh. The fishermen will do their work in the spring.

Conrad Volz, an environmental scientist with the University of Pittsburgh, and a team of researchers did a preliminary study last month. They surveyed the river from Pittsburgh to Kittanning, noting locations of waste water treatment plants, sanitary sewer overflows, industrial activity and environmental stress. In addition, the team took geographic coordinates of all pollution sites and are mapping the locations.
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