health
March 8, 2026
Fishing crews in the Atlantic keep accidentally dredging up chemical weapons
Fishing crews face horrifying burns from dredging the dumped chemical weapons.
TL;DR
- The US dumped an estimated 17,000 tons of unspent chemical weapons off the Atlantic coast until 1970.
- Between 2016 and 2023, at least three incidents occurred where commercial fishing crews dredged up chemical warfare munitions (CWMs) off the coast of New Jersey.
- These incidents exposed at least six crew members to mustard agent, causing severe chemical burns and respiratory distress.
- One crew member required hospitalization, skin grafting, and physical therapy for severe burns.
- In one incident, a munition brought onboard led to a recall of 192 cases of clam chowder and the destruction of 704 cases of clams.
- In another incident, an intact crate of sulfur mustard canisters led to the destruction of 5,300 bushels of surf clams.
- Despite the danger, US laws do not require the recovery and destruction of these decades-old CWMs.
- Fishing crews are advised to be aware of known dumping sites, have personal protective equipment, and report incidents promptly.
Continue reading the original article