Great Lakes Environmental Concerns - Case Study Example

CHEMICALS OF EMERGING CONCERN IN THE GREAT LAKES Author Name Course Professor Date of Submission Introduction The Great Lakes is one of the largest fresh water body shared between North America and Canada. The lake interconnects different channels to form the largest fresh water body on earth. The lakes under this name include Lakes Ontario, Michigan, Superior, Erie and Huron. There are millions of populations that visit Great Lakes as well as those who live near the Lakes that depend on water for domestic and industrial uses (Whitacre, 2010). Over the past decade, there has been a lot of focus on monitoring the environment around the Great Lakes basin, with much emphasis on the chemicals of emerging concern (CEC). These chemicals as the name suggests were originally not present. However, due to the rise and change in consumption patterns of the people living around the lack and near the channels that flow into the basin, their rise has attracted a lot of attention from various domains charged with the role of protecting this natural resource. Most importantly, the rise is attributed to the products that are used daily in businesses, plants, households and agriculture (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). Some of these compounds include flame retardants, personal care products, pesticides, prescription drugs, and a range of pharmaceuticals that have other chemical compositions (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). There are different pathways used by these CEC to enter the Great Lakes (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). The major pathway that is of great concern right now is the released treated wastes that get into the vicinity of the Great Lakes. A lot of chemical tests have been done to ascertain the types of chemicals that are present in the Great Lakes revealing that surely countermeasures have to be taken to prevent the worse from happening (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). This paper explores the chemicals of emerging concern along the Great Lake basin and everything that revolves around the CEC including the measures currently being taken and the impacts they might have on the environment and humans. Chemicals of Emerging Concern Over the past few years Great Lakes has been on the verge of being faced with different chemicals of different origins. Most researchers have taken the initiative of unveiling the sources as well as effects of these chemicals of emerging concerns giving a range of different findings altogether. The reason as to why the chemicals have gained attention is due to the adverse effects they have had on the animals as well as humans who depend on the water at one point or the other in their food chains. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Until the invention of better detection methods, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water could not be identified (Blair et al., 2013). Most of the pharmaceuticals have been found in various cross sectional studies as well as experiments on the Canadian Municipal waste treatment plants, surface waters and drinking water. Ibuprofen, triclosan and cholesterol have been fund in extremely higher levels in both treated and untreated water samples that were collected at different points in the Great Lakes basin (Blair et al., 2013). Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are chemicals of emerging concerns based on their in nearly every densely populated areas around the Great Lakes region where it is believed that there are many sewage treatment plants. These substances find their way into the Great Lakes basin in a variety of ways. First off, the untreated sewage disposed by floods and leakages that finally find their way into the basin. Secondly, through undigested medications that are passed by people through their wastes in toilet systems (Blair et al., 2013). Thirdly, the substances may also be direct from health care facilities as well as pharmaceutical companies that dump their wastes in the sewage treatment plants (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). Veterinary medications also get their way into the basin as run offs into the region from sludge in the farms. It is noteworthy that some of the Personal care products such as musk fragrances persist for long in the environment (Blair et al., 2013). These substances are bio accumulative and toxic to both animals, plants and humans altogether. The sewage treatment plants lack the capacity to sieve all these substances leading to their concentrations (USGS, 2015). These substances have led to an astounding replication of resistant strains of bacteria due to continuous supply of small doses through the treated wastes that are released into the Great Lakes basin (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). The most detected pharmaceutical substances in some sites in Lake Michigan include Metformin, caffeine, sulfamethoxazole and triclosan in an order of decreasing concentration. This same study revealed that the compounds identified in all the assays had a risk quotient that ranged from medium to high risks (Blair et al., 2013). The exact source of these compounds was attributed again to the waste treatment plants that lacked the capacity to fully remove them thus they ended up in both surface water and the sediments from sampled areas (Blair et al., 2013). The research concluded that dilution alone cannot effectively combat the effects of the substances. Synthetic Mucks Synthetic musk fragrances are found in cosmetics, detergents, perfumes as well as care products. They can either be polycyclic or nitro musks and have complex chemical names (Whitacre, 2010). These substances unlike the natural musks exhibit hydrophobic and semi-volatile characteristics and thus have higher chances of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in aquatic organisms (Whitacre, 2010). There is danger in this as they may find their ways into the food chains of animals and humans at some point (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). The ketone and xylene musks have shown high water partitioning coefficients meaning that they end up being widespread in the surface and sediments water altogether, as has been the case in the Great Lakes (Eyles et al., 2011). Studies on the sources of synthetic musks in both Canada and US revel that they emanate from the effluents discharged from the wastewater treatment plants. These substances have been identified in the Great Lakes regions in biota, sediments and surface water. In Lake Michigan, the concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 4.7 nanograms per litre; levels which are higher than normal (Blair et al., 2013). In Lake Ontario the levels were even higher; 16 ng/g dwt compared to the normal levels (Eyles et al., 2011). Fish sampled from the Detroit River and Lake Erie had the lowest concentrations of the synthetic musks. Flame Retardants Flame retardants are chemicals that are applied industrially in various processes to reduce the duration of flames as well as propagation. These chemicals are applied in paint as well as conglomerate of other materials and are well known of their toxic nature and persistence in the environment. Beginning the 19th century, flame retardants have been applied in a range of commercial products including clothes, chemicals, electronics and other materials (Whitacre, 2010). The most common flame retardants that have been revealed in Great Lakes basin are the brominated flame retardants (Eyles et al., 2011). The most common flame retardant that has been found in Great Lakes is Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers which belongs to a class of additive halogenated retardant applied mostly in commercial products (Whitacre, 2010). This compound has high abilities of leaching off the materials treated with it leading to the contamination of both ground and sea waters. This compound has been found in the sediments, biota, water samples, and human tissues (Eyles et al., 2011). The compound is lipophilic and hydrophobic making it possible for it to accumulate as well as magnify in the biological tissues. It is intuitive that after it gets into the sea animals eventually the humans also get to have it. Tracking of the PBDE in Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario reveals that the levels of PBDE is reducing since its ban in the late 1970s. This is contrary to the data between 2000 and 2005 that show some exponential increase in PBDEs. However, due to the persistent nature of all retardants PBDEs inclusive, traces of the compounds have been found in the fish extracted from rivers that feed the Great Lakes as well as the sediments and the populations around the lake (Whitacre, 2010). Des Plaines and Detroit river fish had 12% concentration of this retardant. This shows that however much the use of this flame retardant was banned, the little that was there has over the years accumulated in animal tissues. Most importantly, even the metabolites of PBDEs have been found in high concentrations in the tissues of the fish extracted from different lakes in the Great Lake basin. The source of these flame retardants, just like other discussed chemicals of emerging concern is the waste water treatment plants (Whitacre, 2010). This is mainly due to lack of adequate technologies to single out these compounds that dilution alone cannot remove. Other flame retardants that have also been revealed include Dechlorane plus (DP) that in similar fashion as PBDEs have been identified in sediments, biota and surface water (Eyles et al., 2011). Pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) is also another fire retardant that has been revealed in Lake Michigan by a number of studies (Whitacre, 2010). Lake Ontario and Lake Erie are close to each other and it is speculated that the former may receive some atmospheric pollution from a manufacturing facility located in the Niagara Falls. Pesticides Pesticides have received a wide use both in the urban and the rural settings in the control of organisms that are otherwise harmful to health and property altogether (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). In this category there is an inclusion of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides as well as a conglomerate of other substances that fit the definition (Whitacre, 2010). Canada and USA which are the two countries that heavily depend on Great Lakes basin have strict regulations on these substances that fall under the category of CEC (Eyles et al., 2011). To use pesticides thereof, data concerning their potential harm must be generated, so as to ensure that the safety limits are met (Whitacre, 2010). Studies on the concentrations of the components of the pesticides in water have been conducted by both Canadian and US authorities independently (CELALLCSP, 2009). However, despite the regulations, it is still evident that there are some concentrations of the same in the water collected as samples from different lakes within the Great Lakes basin. Environment Canada collected surface water samples and assayed for the presence of pesticides of water from Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Superior (CELALLCSP, 2009). The results indicated 15 neutral herbicides, 11 acid herbicides, and thirteen orgoanophosphorous based herbicides. Some of the analytes that were uncovered in great concentrations included Atrazine, 2, 4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), metolachlor, and simazine (Whitacre, 2010). The study revealed that there was difference in the concentrations relative to the seasons. Additionally, some special variations in the concentrations was also revealed in the study (Whitacre, 2010). There was high concentration of Atrazine, 2, 4-D and metolachlor in the samples from Lake Erie (Whitacre, 2010). This was due to close proximity to the agricultural areas used as well as urban areas where the pesticides are widely (Whitacre, 2010). The gradient of the concentration increased from north to south in both the surface waters and the sediments. The order was Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario and then Lake Erie, in a descending order of concentration (USGS, 2015). The tributaries of Lake Ontario; Don River and Humber river sheds also indicated some concentrations of pesticides in surface waters as well as the sediments indication that there has been some persistence in their deposition in the Lake as well (USGS, 2015). Analysis of water from the tributaries of Lake Michigan further revealed the presence of diazinon that exceeded the 0.17 microgram per litre set by US Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Guidelines. Nanotechnology Products The world is growing more towards energy reduction strategies and efficiency based production systems. Nanotechnology has shown efficiency in the design of most materials as well as being an additive in some substances (CELALLCSP, 2009). There has been a growing concern by both US and Canada pertaining the growing use of nanomaterial and its corresponding consequences in the environment. These particles have continued to be used in pharmaceuticals, personal care products and cosmetics such as sun screen lotions (Whitacre, 2010). These substances being small are able to penetrate the skin and the gut thus conferring their adverse effects on animals, plants and humans. A good example is titanium oxide that is a suspended carcinogen that has been found in some concentrations in animals and humans around the Great Lakes. These substances have the capacity to exert brain cell damage on their subject. In Canada there are very many companies that market and produce nanoparticles based products. Other Chemicals of Emerging Concern Chlorinated paraffins have also been found in the great lakes region. These compounds are applied in flame retardants, adhesives, paints, and plasticizers have shown great concentrations in sediments extracted from the Great Lakes basin in different locations. The concentration of chlorinated paraffins range from 7.3-410 nanograms per grams. However, in the sediments sampled from the core, there is little concentration an indication that it is that time when they are beginning to accumulate (Whitacre, 2010). Phthalates have also been identified in the great lakes region. The most common of this group is DHEP that is a common plasticizer that has been detected in 20 micrograms per litre in a single study in samples collected from Lakes Superior and Erie (Whitacre, 2010). This concentration exceeds the set water quality guidelines. In the biota the same has been found to have great levels just like chlorinated paraffins, an indication of bioaccumulation. In the sediments the phthalates clock 4030 to 30000 ng/g in dry weight that exceeds the international standards (Blair et al., 2013). Bisophenol A (BPA) is yet another plasticizer that has been found in the Great Lakes water samples. In a sample from Lake Erie, the concentration of this compound was found to be 0.8 micrograms per litre (Whitacre, 2010). In the tributaries of the same lake the concentration in the sediments is about 20 to 60 nanograms per grams in dry weight. Overall, the average concentration of this compound in Great Lake basin is 6.1 ng/gin dry weight (Whitacre, 2010). Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEO) is also another chemical of emerging concern along the Great Lakes basin. Surface water as well as the sediments from the Great Lakes region have indicated higher concentrations of APEO ranging from 0.2 to 71 micrograms per grams in dry weight (Whitacre, 2010). It is speculated that the concentrations have increased with the proximity to urban industrialized centers as well as the waste water treatment plants. Windsor and Detroit waste water treatment plants recorded higher levels of APEOs and this meant that the streams that feed the Great Lake passing through such locations carried APOEs from the sediments where it had already partitioned (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). The fish also indicated some amount of accumulation in their tissues, an indication of slightly higher rate of bioaccumulation of APEOs thus its consideration as a chemical of emerging concern (USGS, 2015). Conclusion It is with no doubt that the revelation in this paper is very disheartening. Nearly every household depends on clean water for a variety of purposes. This would mean that as the water gets polluted, at one point in time the contaminants enter the food chains of humans. Some of these chemicals of emerging concern have been associated with a variety of adverse effects when they are in the human body. Some of the effects include brain cells damage that causes mental issues. The other adverse effects is the growth of tumors being that some are carcinogenic in nature. Some of the chemicals have also caused infertility and birth of children with defects as well. The effects are felt on plants, humans and wild animals alike. In reality, these substances have high efficacies even in small doses that are considered lethal. Some off the chemicals also have heavy metals that are also lethal to the human body and plants growth. As can be seen in the paper, the most common source of these chemicals is the waste water treatment plants that are currently under armed with the right technologies to sense and thus remove the chemicals. These chemicals have high persistence in the environment as has been shown by their presence in the sediments and human as well as animal tissues or biota. The other potential source is the farms and the leakages of the sewage pipes that end up being washed into the basin. As seen in the paper the chemicals of emerging concern following the revelation of their effects as well as their ability to persist in the environment. In the paper, the concentrations of the substances in various locations representative of Great Lakes indicate that the levels are not something to laugh about. Instead, there should be a better method or policies that should be jointly applied to ensure that as the years progress the levels are reduced or at least tamed to levels that are not lethal. As can also be seen in the paper, the chemicals of emerging concern include chlorinated paraffins, nanotechnology particles, synthetic musks, flame retardants, pharmaceutical products and personal care products among others that have also been discussed. Bibliography Blair, Benjamin D., Jordan P. Crago, Curtis J. Hedman, and Rebecca D. Klaper. "Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern." Chemosphere 93, no. 2013 (July/August 2013): 2116–2123. Canadian Environmental Law Association, and Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (CELALLCSP). "The Challenge of Substances of Emerging Concern in the Great Lakes Basin: A review of chemicals policies and programs in Canada and the United States." Canadian Environmental Law Association. Last modified July 2, 2009. http://s.cela.ca/files/667IJC.pdf. Eyles, John, Bruce K. Newbold, Anita Toth, and Tasnova Shah. "Chemicals of Concern in Ontario and The Great Lakes Basin – Update 2011: Emerging Issues." BARC: McMaster Institute of Environmental Health. Last modified March 2011. http://www.hamiltonharbour.ca/resources/documents/admin_1/Chemicals_of_Concern_Update_2011.pdf. Klaper, Rebecca, and Lyman C. Welch. "Emerging Contaminant Threats and the Great Lakes: Existing science, estimating relative risk and determining policies." Home: Alliance for the Great Lakes. Last modified 2011. http://www.greatlakes.org/Document.Doc?id=1072. USGS. "Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Water and Bottom Sediment in the Great Lakes Basin, 2012—Collection Methods, Analytical Methods, Quality Assurance, and Study Data." U.S. Geological Survey Publications Warehouse. Last modified 2015. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0910/pdf/ds910.pdf. Whitacre, David M. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Volume 207 Volume 207. New York: Springer, 2010. Read More

The source of these flame retardants, just like other discussed chemicals of emerging concern is the waste water treatment plants (Whitacre, 2010). This is mainly due to lack of adequate technologies to single out these compounds that dilution alone cannot remove. Other flame retardants that have also been revealed include Dechlorane plus (DP) that in similar fashion as PBDEs have been identified in sediments, biota and surface water (Eyles et al., 2011). Pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) is also another fire retardant that has been revealed in Lake Michigan by a number of studies (Whitacre, 2010).

Lake Ontario and Lake Erie are close to each other and it is speculated that the former may receive some atmospheric pollution from a manufacturing facility located in the Niagara Falls. Pesticides Pesticides have received a wide use both in the urban and the rural settings in the control of organisms that are otherwise harmful to health and property altogether (Klaper and Lyman, 2011). In this category there is an inclusion of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides as well as a conglomerate of other substances that fit the definition (Whitacre, 2010).

Canada and USA which are the two countries that heavily depend on Great Lakes basin have strict regulations on these substances that fall under the category of CEC (Eyles et al., 2011). To use pesticides thereof, data concerning their potential harm must be generated, so as to ensure that the safety limits are met (Whitacre, 2010). Studies on the concentrations of the components of the pesticides in water have been conducted by both Canadian and US authorities independently (CELALLCSP, 2009).

However, despite the regulations, it is still evident that there are some concentrations of the same in the water collected as samples from different lakes within the Great Lakes basin. Environment Canada collected surface water samples and assayed for the presence of pesticides of water from Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Superior (CELALLCSP, 2009). The results indicated 15 neutral herbicides, 11 acid herbicides, and thirteen orgoanophosphorous based herbicides. Some of the analytes that were uncovered in great concentrations included Atrazine, 2, 4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), metolachlor, and simazine (Whitacre, 2010).

The study revealed that there was difference in the concentrations relative to the seasons. Additionally, some special variations in the concentrations was also revealed in the study (Whitacre, 2010). There was high concentration of Atrazine, 2, 4-D and metolachlor in the samples from Lake Erie (Whitacre, 2010). This was due to close proximity to the agricultural areas used as well as urban areas where the pesticides are widely (Whitacre, 2010). The gradient of the concentration increased from north to south in both the surface waters and the sediments.

The order was Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario and then Lake Erie, in a descending order of concentration (USGS, 2015). The tributaries of Lake Ontario; Don River and Humber river sheds also indicated some concentrations of pesticides in surface waters as well as the sediments indication that there has been some persistence in their deposition in the Lake as well (USGS, 2015). Analysis of water from the tributaries of Lake Michigan further revealed the presence of diazinon that exceeded the 0.

17 microgram per litre set by US Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Guidelines. Nanotechnology Products The world is growing more towards energy reduction strategies and efficiency based production systems. Nanotechnology has shown efficiency in the design of most materials as well as being an additive in some substances (CELALLCSP, 2009). There has been a growing concern by both US and Canada pertaining the growing use of nanomaterial and its corresponding consequences in the environment.

These particles have continued to be used in pharmaceuticals, personal care products and cosmetics such as sun screen lotions (Whitacre, 2010).

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