WMOD00287 ‎(2)‎

• Project Name: Project Skywater
• Title: Summary Report - Seeding Agents Group - November 8-12, 1976, Skywater Meeting
• Date: 11/8/1976
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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assumptions: 1) that seeding agents are unlikely to affect food production
in gane habitats; 2) that agents are unlikely to be transformed into forms
significantly rrore toxic than they are deFOsited in; and 4) that seeding
agents are unlikely to be concentrated up food chains. Assumptions 3 and
4 deserve further study and are considered as issues below. The public appears
to have a greater concern atout this issue than it deserves, perhaps because
of misconceptions atout the concentrations applied and a p::x:>r analogy with
DIY!' concentration up through food chains.

Recornnendations

We recorrmend further studies of transformation processes and bioconcentration
in the near future (10 years).

Issue 3: Effects of Seeding Agents on Endangered-Species'

At present seeding rates and concentrations seeding agents are unlikely to be
detriJrental to endangered species. Our conclusion is based on the assumptions
that: 1) that agents are unlikely to affect food supplies directlYi 2) that
agents are unlikely to be transforrned into forms significantly rrore toxic than
they are deFOsited ini and 3) that seeding agents are unlikely to be con-
centrated up food chains. The greater interest of the public in game species
than " in endangered species is due perhaps to the greater numbers of SfX)rtsrran
than rare species enthusiasts.

P.ecomroendations

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Available scientific infomation this p:)int should be made available to inter-
ested sports and conservation groups.

Issue 4: "General D:mage"

~bst of the proFOsed effects of seeding agents in this issue category are
related to the possibility of toxic effects in a legal sense, since seeding .
agents are applied in such small quanti ties. Other effects are probably
insignificant: agents are not e-'P8Cted to contaminate the atrrosphere, or water.
Public recognition of this issue is probably correlated with a misunderstanding
of arrounts applied and this largely legal issue does not appear to be based on
actual damages.

Recorrm::mdations

No specific research in this area is needed, but a public relations program
of interest and explanation should l:.e maintained. ;'.s this is a case of legal
concept, rrost likely, even with the availability of user-related infonration,
this issue will continue to be raised.

Issue 5: Bioconcentration

In general, bioconcentration is not a prine issue as it relates to higher
organisns. However, plants vary in their capacity to accumulate or exclude
Iretals, including Ag, with no manifestations of toxicity arrong the accumulators.

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