Planned Study Could Spur Routine Tests of Seafood

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday requested a study that could lead to routine testing of commercial seafood, after reports that fish sold in Southern California is sometimes tainted with DDT and other contaminants.

The board ordered county Agricultural Commissioner Leon Spaugy to report within a month with plans for a seafood testing program. Supervisor Mike Antonovich said he requested the study after reading a report last month in The Times about seafood contamination. Laboratory tests conducted for The Times revealed DDT residues in Great Lakes whitefish, illegal mercury counts in swordfish, and cooked shrimp tainted with high levels of bacteria--all purchased locally.

Federal and state officials said their tests have shown similar results. But regulators monitor only a small fraction of seafood purchased by consumers.