Chemical Contaminants in the Coastal Environment

1. Chemical Contaminants in the Coastal Environment Michael H. Fulton Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research

2. 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

3. Sources of Chemical Contaminants in the Coastal Environment

4. Point Source Discharges • Industrial Discharges (paper mills, petroleum refineries, metal plating, chemical manufacturing)

5. 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)

6. Nonpoint Source Pollution • Agricultural Runoff • Runoff of herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers from farms

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

8. Urban Runoff • Runoff from roads and parking lots

9. Nonpoint Source Pollution • Discharges from boats and marinas

10. Chemical Contaminant Classes

11. 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

12. 2’ 3’ 3 2 4 4’ (Cl)n (Cl)n 5 5’ 6 6’ 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

13. Cl Cl Cl Chlorinated Pesticides • DDT, Chlordane, Mirex • Persistent and bioaccumulate in the environment • Most banned in the US • Reproductive and neurological effects Cl Cl DDT

14. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) • Crude and refined petroleum products • Combustion byproducts • Oil spills, internal combustion engines • Some are persistent • Some are carcinogenic Benzo[a]pyrene

15. These four classes of compounds are the most widely sampled in coastal monitoring programs

16. National Contaminant Monitoring Programs

17. NOAA’s 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

18. EPA’s 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

19. Report on the condition of the nation’s 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

20. 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

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

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

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

24. 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

25. South Carolina Coastal Zone Sediment Contaminant Levels (SCECAP) 1999-2004 Georgetown Charleston Beaufort

26. Charleston Sediment Contaminant Levels (SCECAP) 1999-2004

27. Sediment Contamination (ERM-Q) 100 80 60 Percent of Coastal Habitat 40 20 0 Open Creek Open Creek Open Creek 2003-2004 2001-2002 1999-2000 Poor Good Fair

28. Sediment Contaminants vs Percent Urban/Suburban Cover 90% < 0.020 80% >0.02 -0.058 > 0.058 70% 60% 50% Percent of Stations 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0-30% 31-50% >50% N=178 N=39 N=59 Percent Urban/Suburban Land Cover Van Dolah et al., in prep

29. 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.

30. Examples of Emerging Contaminants

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

32. 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

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

34. 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

35. Oceans and Human Health Initiative Emerging Chemical Contaminants Program

36. 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

37. Examples of Current Research

39. 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Bulls Shem Parrot Okatee Village Guerin North Inlet Albergottie New Market James Island Murrells Inlet Orange Grove ForestedSuburbanUrban Flame Retardants (PBDEs in Sediments) Total PBDE (ng/g dry wt)

40. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Antifoulants

41. Irgarol (antifoulant) concentrations in the Wando River, ng/L *

42. How can we reduce NPS Pollution? • Use lawn and household pesticides in moderation and don’t exceed label directions……..more isn’t better • Don’t 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

43. Thank You! Questions? Thank You!