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Ecological Effects of Fire Retardant
Chemicals and Fire Suppressant Foams

JPG -- Fire Retardant Foam Application
Application of fire suppressant foam from ground tanker
The research described here was the result of a joint effort by scientists at the Columbia Environmental Research Center (formerly Columbia National Fisheries Research Center [Columbia, MO, and Field Research Station, Yankton, SD]), Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center [Jamestown, ND], and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (Laurel, MD). The research was initiated in 1993 when the three Centers were part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was carried on when they were moved to the National Biological Survey (later renamed the National Biological Service), and finally combined with the U.S. Geological Survey as the Biological Resources Division in October 1996. The Project Coordinator for the research effort was Susan Finger (Environmental and Contaminants Research Center [formerly Columbia Environmental Research Center], 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201-9634; comm. 573-876-1850; fax 573-876-1896; Susan_Finger@usgs.gov).

The Environmental and Contaminants Research Center (4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201-9634) was responsible for research on the effects of fire retardants on aquatic ecosystems in field studies. The principal investigator was Barry Poulton, PhD (comm. 573-876-1873; fax 573- 876-1896; Barry_Poulton@usgs.gov).

This resource should be cited as: 
Hamilton, Steve, Diane Larson, Susan Finger, Barry Poulton, Nimish Vyas, 
     and Elwood Hill.  Ecological effects of fire retardant chemicals 
     and fire suppressant foams. Jamestown, ND:  Northern Prairie 
     Wildlife Research Center Online.
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/fireweb/index.htm 
     (Version 02MAR98).
JPG -- Fire Retardant Aerial Application
Application of fire retardant chemical from fixed-wing aircraft

The Yankton Field Research Station (Environmental and Contaminants Research Center, Field Research Station, RR 1 Box 295, Yankton, South Dakota 57078- 9214) was responsible for conducting laboratory studies with five fire-fighting chemicals tested in two water qualities to determine effects on three fish species, two aquatic invertebrates, and a green algae. The principal investigator was Steve Hamilton, PhD (comm. 605-665- 9217; fax 605-665-9335; Steve_Hamilton@usgs.gov).

The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (8711 37th St. SE, Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-9736) was responsible for conducting field studies to determine effects of two fire-fighting chemicals on vegetation. The principal investigator was Diane Larson, PhD (comm. 612-625-9271; fax 612-624-6777; dlarson@biosci.cbs.umn.edu).

The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (Wildlife Toxicology Group, 1510 American Holly Drive, Laurel, Maryland 20807-4017) was responsible for determining the effects of five chemicals on a mammalian species, three bird species, and a terrestrial invertebrate in both laboratory and field studies. The principal investigator was Nimish Vyas, PhD (comm. 301-497-5721; fax 301-497-5744; Nimish_Vyas@usgs.gov). Elwood Hill, PhD was a co-investigator who is now retired.

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(Download) fireweb.zip (387K) -- Ecological Effects of Fire Retardant Chemicals and Fire Suppressant Foams
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