A recent stormwater sampling effort in Eureka revealed a troubling trend in area parking lots: Even in periods of relatively light rain, high concentrations of salmon-killing toxic compounds are being flushed directly into local creeks and Humboldt Bay.The results come from a pilot project recently conducted by Humboldt Waterkeeper. The organization collected water samples from two Cal Poly Humboldt parking lots in Arcata and from the Eureka Target and Costco parking lots. The water samples were testing for a compound that has recently been discovered to be particularly toxic to coho salmon, which are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. The pollutant in question, known as 6PPD, is used in tires to help maintain their integrity. As tires break down from normal wear and tear, 6PPD is released and reacts to ozone in the air and transforms into a compound known as 6PPD-q. 

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• The Times-Standard (Eureka, Calif.): Stormwater tested from local big-box parking lots find high toxin levels