In this bonus episode of Rethinking EHS, host Beatrice Bizzaro speaks with Ivy Liu (Terrapex Canada) to explore the impact of 6PPD-quinone on coho salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. The conversation highlights how a common tire additive transforms into a toxic compound in the environment, causing widespread mortality in sensitive fish species and signaling broader water quality issues linked to urban runoff.
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Time Stamps
00:00:06 – Introduction & episode overview
00:00:43 – Why coho salmon are key indicator species
00:03:28 – How 6PPD enters waterways
00:05:04 – Why research is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest
00:06:09 – Key takeaways and urgency for action
00:07:28 – Salmon life cycle and vulnerability
00:09:25 – “Canary in the coal mine” explained
00:11:45 – Closing reflections
Guest Quotes
Ivy Ng:
“Coho salmon are especially effective sentinels because their response is rapid, consistent and lethal, signaling broader water quality issues.”