New Report: Wasting Our Waterways 2012

A new report called "Wasting Our Waterways 2012: Toxic Industrial Pollution and the Unfulfilled Promise of the Clean Water Act" was released in March by the Environment America Research and Policy Center. This report outlines the effect of pollution from industrial facilities nationwide, and estimates that over 14,000 miles of river, and 220,000 acres of lakes, ponds, and estuaries have been negatively affected by this kind of pollution.

This map, accessed via Environment America, shows the pounds of toxins discharged, by state, in 2010. According to the report, millions of pounds of chemicals released by industrial facilities are dangerous to human health, linked to cancer and other disorders, as well as harmful to the environment. The report asks for the United States to "restore Clean Water Act protection to all of America's waterways and improve enforcement of the Clean Water Act," as well as reevaluating regulations for toxic chemical release by industrial facilities.

Click here to access the report and a summary by Environment America.

No, not PCBs, PBDEs!

PBDEs is the quick way to refer to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, toxic compounds used in manufacturing as flame retardants. Common household items that are routinely flame retarded include mattresses, television sets and computers. Since PBDEs have been identified in nature, researchers in UW-Madison's Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology have been doing some interesting work to see what the implications may be, specifically on the Northern Leopard Frog. This UW Sea Grant video will give you a closer look.


Further information can be found in this Sea Grant news release.

Phosphorus Use : Problem with a capital P

Overuse of the agricultural fertilizer phosphorus has led to pollution of lakes, rivers and streams, in addition to the potential shortage of the chemical element worldwide. Number 15 on the periodic table, phosphorus was discovered in 1669 and found to glow in the dark. This may explain some of bright colors that can be seen in algal growth stemming from phosphoric pollution.

When excessively used, this fertilizer can be carried away in runoff to nearby bodies of water, and results in algal blooms. It can also be found causing issues at improperly run wastewater treatment facilities. The algal blooms in freshwater make the ecosystem unstable and also lower the water quality. An overabundance of phosphorus is also a cause of eutrophication. This means that too many plants grow and take the oxygen out of the water which puts fish and other aquatic life in danger as well as degrading the quality of the water. Scientists are debating how changing agricultural practices relating to phosphate may affect pollution of surface waters. For further information, read the UW-Madison press release. The caption for the photo posted above and another algae photo can be seen here.

Photo credit: UW-Madison Communications, Bryce Richter

Phosphorus Rules in Effect in Wisconsin

Passed in June this year by the Natural Resources Board, the Phosphorus Rules will go into effect this month. Compliance with these rules, basically governing the numeric level of phosphorus that can be permitted to enter the water, will help to keep waters cleaner and will ultimately benefit fish and wildlife, fisheries, waterfront property owners, and recreational water users among others. Some of the negative effects of phosphorus include "toxic algae, excessive weed growth and murky water" (WDNR release).

The rules were developed over a period of time based on years of scientific research and evidence. Input from farmers, water treatment systems, manufacturers, food processors, local governments and environmental groups was also essential in their formation. There is also further work being done to help lower the cost of compliance.

For more information, see the WDNR news release.

Photo from theecologist.org.

Another Step in Fox River Cleanup & Restoration

An agreement was reached between the City of Green Bay, Brown County and the Army Corps of Engineers that a sum of $5.2 million go toward cleanup and restoration of the Fox River. Most of this money will be spent on dredging polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminants from the river. Part of this money will also be set aside for future response costs. Officials say this payment shares "reflect the roles of the Corps, the County and the City in the resulting damages to natural resources."(WDNR release) This is one in a series of agreements relating to contamination in the Fox River and Lower Green Bay.

For further information, see the WDNR news release, or their information page about the Fox River/Green Bay Cleanup Project.

Fox River Map courtesty of WDNR.

New report from USGS

From the USGS Web site:

Manufacturing Facilities Release Pharmaceuticals to the Environment

Editors: This scientific paper is published in Environmental Science and Technology. The paper, an accompanying USGS data report, and related information are available online.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals to surface waters, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted in cooperation with the State of New York.

Outflow from two wastewater treatment plants in New York that receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities had concentrations of pharmaceuticals that were 10 to 1000 times higher than outflows from 24 plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers.

"This is the first study in the U.S. to identify pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment," said Matthew C. Larsen, USGS Associate Director for Water. "The USGS is working with water utilities to evaluate alternative water treatment technologies with the goal of reducing the release of pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment."

Maximum concentrations in outflows from the two wastewater treatment plants in New York were:
• 3,800 parts per billion (ppb) of metaxalone (a muscle relaxant)
• 1,700 ppb of oxycodone (an opioid prescribed for pain relief)
• Greater than 400 ppb of methadone (an opioid prescribed for pain relief and drug withdrawal)
• 160 ppb of butalbital (a barbiturate)
• Greater than 40 ppb of phendimetrazine (a stimulant prescribed for obesity) and carisoprodol (a muscle relaxant)
• 3.9 ppb diazepam (an anti-anxiety medication)

Read more online.

Atrazine and the African clawed frog

Wisconsin's Water Library's AskWater email reference service often responds to questions about frogs. Cricket frogs, Spring Peeper frogs, Northern Leopard frogs, and, of course, Bullfrogs, there are many species found throughout Wisconsin. From flooded prairie to ephemeral pond, our state provides many habitats for a peaceful evening of frog song.

But frogs also play an important roll as indicator species. Their abundance and overall health often reflect the health of whole ecosystems. Frogs are being carefully watched by scientists.

A new study published by the National Academy of Science analyzes atrazine and it's affect on the African clawed frog. A popular corn herbicide, atrazine is one of the most commonly applied pesticides in the world. And, as a result, it's often found in ground and surface waters. In Wisconsin, for example, a 2005 DATCP survey of 16,000 private wells showed that almost 40% tested positive for it (FY 2009 Groundwater Coordinating Council Report to the Legislature, p. 74).

According to the new study, this is bad for frogs.

Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults. Ten percent of the exposed genetic males developed into functional females that copulated with unexposed males and produced viable eggs. Atrazine-exposed males suffered from depressed testosterone, decreased breeding gland size, demasculinized/feminized laryngeal development, suppressed mating behavior, reduced spermatogenesis, and decreased fertility.

If you'd like to know more, read the study here.
Or, check out the Wisconsin's Water Library's recommended reading list on frogs.

Non-point pollution hearings coming soon

The Wisconsin DNR will soon hold a series of public hearings on proposed revisions to administrative rules regulating non-point pollution. Administrative rules implement the statutes enacted by Wisconsin Legislature and have the full force and effect of law. Look here for a list of upcoming hearing locations.

The proposed changes would--among other things--create new agricultural standards to further limit the amount of fertilizer and manure carried into water bodies. They would also allow municipalities more time to meet the requirement that they reduce the amount of stormwater pollutants.

Furthermore, new performance standards are being proposed: the Phosphorus Index and Tillage Setback. The Phosphorus Index is a planning tool for assessing the potential of croplands, pastures and winter grazing areas to contribute phosphorus to the nearest waterbody. The Tillage Setback performance standard is designed to protect the structural integrity of streambanks and shorelines from tillage operations and to prevent the direct application of sediment to state waters.

Learn more about the proposed administrative rule changes—and the Wisconsin Buffer Initiative that recommended many of them—at the following websites:

Nonpoint Source Program Administrative Rules

Wisconsin Buffer Initiative

Public hearings set on DNR's proposed runoff rules

New EPA report on fish contamination

In a new report, the Environmental Protection Agency has found a "widespread contamination" of fish in the nation's lakes and reservoirs. The result of a nearly decade-long screening-level survey, called the National Lake Fish Tissue Study, the report provides new baseline data for chemical residue in fish.

A statistical (random) sampling of 500 U.S. lakes and reservoirs, the study analyzed tissue samples of both predator fish species, like bass or trout, and bottom-dwelling species, like carp or catfish. The researchers tested the samples for 268 chemicals, including mercury, arsenic, dioxins and furans, pesticides, and semivolatile organic compounds.

The results are dramatic:

• 49% of the sampled population of lakes had mercury tissue concentrations that exceeded the 0.3 ppm screening value for mercury, which represents over 36,000 lakes.
  
• 17% of the sampled population of lakes had PCB tissue concentrations that exceeded the 0.12 ppb screening value for total PCBs, which represents about 13,000 lakes
• 8% of the sampled population of lakes had dioxin and furan tissue concentrations that exceeded the 0.15 ppt screening value for total dioxins and furans, which represents about 6,000 lakes.

To learn more about the National Lake Fish Tissue Study, visit their website: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/study/

Or read the Final Report Executive Summary
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/study/data/summary.pdf

In the News: Stimulus money coming to Wisconsin to prevent water pollution

One million dollars will help Wisconsin and Minnesota prevent water pollution.

Governor Doyle announced that he will allocate $65,000 of this funding to support existing collaborative efforts with Minnesota to improve water quality on the St. Croix River, including reducing runoff of nutrient rich soil from constructions sites and farms in both states.

"In Wisconsin, we are blessed with an abundance of fresh water," Governor Doyle said. "From our rivers, to our lakes, to our Great Lakes, our waters define who we are. They drive our economy. They drive our recreation. They drive our way of life. I am pleased to allocate $65,000 to help improve water quality on the St. Croix River. Pollution is a continuing problem as populations along the river continues to increase. Wisconsin and Minnesota must continue to work hard and work together to protect this natural resource."

To read full article, go to WKOWTV.com.

EPA finds greenhouse gases pose threat to public health

After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding April 17 that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.

The proposed finding, which now moves to a public comment period, identified six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat.

To read article, go to Environmental Protection Agency.

The Office of Water for the US EPA also issued their progress report for implementing the National Water Program Strategy in response to climate change in January for the year of 2008. To view the report, go to EPA.

Pavement sealcoat linked to urban lake contamination

From the USGS: Dust collected from coal-tar sealcoated parking lots in Central and Eastern U.S. cities contains concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are about 1,000 times greater than levels found in Western cities where coal-tar sealcoat is less commonly used, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study published this week in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

The new study also shows that coal-tar sealcoat - the shiny black material applied to many parking lots and driveways - is contributing to PAH contamination in many of the nation's urban lakes. PAHs are an environmental concern because they are toxic to aquatic life and several are suspected carcinogens.

Read more...