Chemical Contaminants in the Coastal Environment

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Chemical Contaminants in the Coastal Environment

• Michael H. Fulton

Center for Coastal Environmental Health and
Biomolecular Research
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Presentation Objectives

• Describe sources of chemical contaminants in the
  coastal environment
• Discuss the types and characteristics of chemical
  contaminants in the coastal environment
• Discuss contaminant distribution and trends from
  a National and South Carolina perspective
• Discuss Emerging Contaminant Issues

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Sources of Chemical Contaminants in the Coastal
Environment
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Point Source Discharges

• Industrial Discharges (paper mills, petroleum
  refineries, metal plating, chemical
  manufacturing)

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Point Sources

• Point sources are permitted under the National
  Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
• NPDES allows chemical and toxicity limits to be
  set for point source discharges
• Permit Programs are administered though EPA or
  authorized by state agencies (DHEC)

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Nonpoint Source Pollution

• Agricultural Runoff
• Runoff of herbicides, insecticides and
  fertilizers from farms

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Urban Runoff

• Runoff of herbicides, insecticides and
  fertilizers from lawns and golf courses

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Urban Runoff

• Runoff from roads and parking lots

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Nonpoint Source Pollution

• Discharges from boats and marinas

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Chemical Contaminant Classes
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Inorganic Contaminants

• Heavy metals
• Mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic
• Natural sources, industrial processes, fuel
  additives, coal combustion, fungicides
• Many different modes of action
• Some are neurotoxins (lead, mercury)
• Ecological effects and contaminated shellfish

Shipyard Creek
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Organic contaminants

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
• Chlorinated compounds
• Previously used in transformers and lubricants
• Persistent and bioaccumulate in the environment
  (degrade slowly and increase in the food chain)
• Reproductive, immune system, and
  neurodevelopmental effects

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Chlorinated Pesticides

• DDT, Chlordane, Mirex
• Persistent and bioaccumulate in the environment
• Most banned in the US
• Reproductive and neurological effects

Cl
Cl
DDT
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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

• Crude and refined petroleum products
• Combustion byproducts
• Oil spills, internal combustion engines
• Some are persistent
• Some are carcinogenic

Benzoapyrene
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• These four classes of compounds are the most
  widely sampled in coastal monitoring programs

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National Contaminant Monitoring Programs
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NOAAs Status and Trends ProgramMussel Watch

• 280 Coastal Sites
• Sites are re-sampled over time
• 1986-Present
• 100 organic and inorganic Contaminants
• Contaminants measured in sediments and shellfish
  (mussels and oysters)
• Four sites in South Carolina

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EPAs National Coastal Assessment (NCA) Program

• Involves partnerships with State agencies
• Water quality data
• Sediment contaminants and toxicity
• Benthic community (bottom dwelling organisms)
  assessments
• Tissue contamination
• Thousands of stations along the US coast
• Randomly selected stations are sampled every year
• Data collected since 1990

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• Report on the condition of the nations estuarine
  waters and coastal fisheries
• 2001, 2005, 2007
• EPA, NOAA, USGS, USFWS
• Water quality, sediment quality (contamination
  and toxicity), benthic community, coastal
  habitat, fish contaminants
• Uses data from NCA and Mussel Watch Programs

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National Trends

• Mussel Watch Project (shellfish)
• 1986-2003
• Few trends observed for many compounds
• Decreasing trends for some banned compounds like
  chlorinated pesticides and PCBs

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National Trends

• Coastal Condition Report
• Sediment Quality (sediment contamination,
  toxicity, TOC)
• Slight increase in the percent area with poor
  sediment quality 10 14

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South Carolina

• South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment
  Program (SCECAP)
• SCDNR, SCDHEC, EPA, NOAA
• Program established in 1999

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SCECAP Objectives

• Monitor the quality of all South Carolina
  estuaries
• Water and sediment quality
• Biological Condition
• Develop integrated measures of habitat condition

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Approach

• 60 randomly selected stations sampled every year
• Half the stations in tidal creeks and half in
  larger open water bodies
• Water quality, sediment quality (contaminants and
  toxicity), tissue contaminants, biological
  community assessments

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Sediment Contaminant Levels (SCECAP) 1999-2004
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Van Dolah et al., in prep
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Emerging Contaminants

• Many contaminants entering estuaries are not
  included in routine monitoring programs and their
  potential to impact ecological and human health
  is largely unknown.

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Examples of Emerging Contaminants
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Pharmaceuticals

• New area of environmental concern
• Multiple sources of contamination
• Sewage treatment is unsuccessful

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Pharmaceuticals

• Measured in surface waters, groundwater, tap
  water, and sediments worldwide
• Environmental concentrations similar to other
  organic pollutants such as agrochemicals
• Currently no water quality standards

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Flame Retardants

• Polybrominated Compounds (PBCs)
• Used as flame retardants in household products,
  clothing and furniture
• Detected in wildlife, sediments, mothers milk,
  and human plasma
• Persistent and may bioaccumulate in the
  environment
• May affect neurological development and disrupt
  thyroid hormone

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Current-Use Pesticides

• Since 1978, more than 130 new chemical active
  ingredients have been registered
• Between 10-15 pesticide active ingredients are
  registered each year
• Used in agriculture, turf grass management (golf
  courses), lawns and gardens, disease vector
  control, antifouling agents

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Oceans and Human Health Initiative Emerging
Chemical Contaminants Program
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Objectives

• Identify emerging contaminants of concern in the
  estuarine/marine environment
• Develop methods needed to measure these
  contaminants in the environment
• Evaluate the toxic effects of emerging
  contaminants in estuarine organisms as well as
  their potential to impact human health
• Document the presence and distribution of these
  contaminants in the estuarine environment and
  develop risk assessments

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Examples of Current Research
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Flame Retardants (PBDEs in Sediments)
Total PBDE (ng/g dry wt)
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Antifoulants
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Irgarol (antifoulant) concentrations in the Wando
River, ng/L

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How can we reduce NPS Pollution?

• Use lawn and household pesticides in moderation
  and dont exceed label directions..more isnt
  better
• Dont pour unwanted chemicals down the drain or
  on the ground..take them to a hazardous waste
  collection center
• Recycle used oil and have regular tune ups (boats
  and automobiles)
• Be careful when refueling boats

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Thank You!
Thank You!
Questions?