Introduction to Emerging Contaminants

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Introduction to Emerging Contaminants

• What are Emerging Contaminants?

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What are Emerging Contaminants?

• Emerging does NOT mean that
• these chemicals are NEW.
• These chemicals have been released into the
  environments as long as they have been in use!

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What are Emerging Contaminants?
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What are Emerging Contaminants?
McCalls Magazine January 1946
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What are Emerging Contaminants?
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)
Detergents and Surfactants
Nanomaterials
Polybrominated Flame Retardants (PBDEs)

• Drugs - Consumer Products Chemicals

Fragrances
Disinfectants
Pesticides and Repellants
Plastics
Antioxidants
Fumigants
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What are Emerging Contaminants?

• Encompasses many classes of chemicals!
• Even the term raises technical questions!
• Not currently regulated!
• Unknown or incomplete knowledge of environmental
  fate and toxicity!

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Introduction to Emerging Contaminants

• Why should our industry care?

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Why should our industry care?
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• Greater Scientific Interest

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Why should our industry care?
Drugs are in the Water. Does it Matter? New York
Times, 2007
Unused Medicine a painful waste, possible
hazard. Denver Post, 2005
Discarded drugs take a bad trip in the
environment Chigago Tribune, 2006

• Greater Public Interest

Mystery toxins turn male bass into
mothers.. Lexington Hearld-Leader, 2004
Hormonal chemicals may be imperiling fish The
Seattle Times, 2007
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Why should our industry care?
Endocrine Disruption!
Gender Abnormalities!
Acute Wildlife Effects!
Antibiotic Resistance!

• Scientific Certainty - Uncertainty

U-Shaped Dose Response Curves!
Chronic Wildlife Effects!
Skewed Sex Ratios!
Intersex Fish!
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Introduction to Emerging Contaminants

• What we know or dont know!

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What we know or dont know!

• Certain emerging contaminants have been shown to
  interact with the endocrine system.
• There is scientific evidence to suggest that
  aquatic organisms have been effected.
• There is great scientific debate whether humans
  are effected at the environmental concentrations
  present today.

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What we know or dont know!

• USGS has detected many of these chemicals in
  water bodies throughout the United States.
• Many of these chemicals are routinely used by the
  average household.
• The widespread use of these chemicals allows for
  many points on entry to the environment.

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What we know or dont know!

• Wastewater treatment does not completely remove
  these chemicals from waste streams.
• Is A New Paradigm In Order?