fisher16
09-22-2006, 09:02 PM
Bluegills protecting cities from terrorist activity
Some major U.S. cities are using bluegills to monitor their public drinking water supply (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/17/AR2006091700406.html) as an early detection system against possible terrorism.
Also known colloquially as bream and sunfish, the popular panfish is being used to guard drinking water in San Francisco, New York and Washington from substances such as cyanide, diesel fuel, mercury and pesticides.
Bluegill are kept in tanks constantly replenished with water from the municipal supply (http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?id=2576821), and sensors register changes in the breathing, heartbeat and swimming patterns of the bluegills that are known to occur in the presence of toxic substances.
http://espn-ak.starwave.com/winnercomm/outdoors/fishing/i/P2_f_fea_bluegill_soldiers.jpg
A new water-quality monitoring system automatically analyzes the behavior of eight to 12 bluegill fish in a tank at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's water-treatment plant.
"Nature's given us pretty much the most powerful and reliable early warning center out there," said Bill Lawler, co-founder of Intelligent Automation, the company that produces and markets the bluegill monitoring system.
Software produced by the company measures "sunfish stress," so to speak.
"The idea is to have happy, stress-free fish. Once we have minute toxins in the water, the fish will react," Lawler said.
The moment a swimming water guard shows any sign of stressful behavior, water authorities are notified via e-mail or a phone call.
So, vigilance, you brave bluegill. America depends on youBeerchug
Some major U.S. cities are using bluegills to monitor their public drinking water supply (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/17/AR2006091700406.html) as an early detection system against possible terrorism.
Also known colloquially as bream and sunfish, the popular panfish is being used to guard drinking water in San Francisco, New York and Washington from substances such as cyanide, diesel fuel, mercury and pesticides.
Bluegill are kept in tanks constantly replenished with water from the municipal supply (http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?id=2576821), and sensors register changes in the breathing, heartbeat and swimming patterns of the bluegills that are known to occur in the presence of toxic substances.
http://espn-ak.starwave.com/winnercomm/outdoors/fishing/i/P2_f_fea_bluegill_soldiers.jpg
A new water-quality monitoring system automatically analyzes the behavior of eight to 12 bluegill fish in a tank at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's water-treatment plant.
"Nature's given us pretty much the most powerful and reliable early warning center out there," said Bill Lawler, co-founder of Intelligent Automation, the company that produces and markets the bluegill monitoring system.
Software produced by the company measures "sunfish stress," so to speak.
"The idea is to have happy, stress-free fish. Once we have minute toxins in the water, the fish will react," Lawler said.
The moment a swimming water guard shows any sign of stressful behavior, water authorities are notified via e-mail or a phone call.
So, vigilance, you brave bluegill. America depends on youBeerchug