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Contaminants Of Emerging Concern Within The Mainstem Of The Ohio River And its Tributaries
Citation:
MILLS, M., E. Emery, S. F. Nakayama, AND J. Spaeth. Contaminants Of Emerging Concern Within The Mainstem Of The Ohio River And its Tributaries. Presented at SETAC Portland North American Meeting, Portland, OR, November 07 - 11, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
To document the occurrence and concentrations of CECs in the main-stem of the Ohio River and several tributaries.
Description:
Contaminants of emerging concern such as PPCPs, alkylphenols, EDCs, and PFCs in waterways have been of increasing public concern. The extent and persistence of their occurrence in surface waters remains unclear. Though there are many sources of these contaminants, research has focused primarily on WWTPs and CAFOs. Kolpin et al. (2002) surveyed downstream of major municipal, industrial or agricultural centers for organic wastewater contaminants. They found that steroid hormones were present at varying levels in 86% of the streams surveyed. A national survey by USEPA NERL of 50 WWTPs found 26% to contain estrogenic endocrine disrupting activity levels high enough to induce vitellogenesis in male fathead minnows (Lazorchak & Smith 2004). However, these were grab samples and effluents change depending on influent characteristics, therefore this may not provide an accurate estimate as to the problem extent. These studies provided valuable information about the presence of CECs in surface water, however, the longitudinal occurrence and concentrations of these compounds within large river systems are unknown. Identifying CECs and their concentrations in surface waters of the Ohio River and its tributaries is essential to protecting the ecosystem and the public health of the 25 million people who live within the basin and depend on the water for drinking water, irrigation, and recreation. The existence, extent of and persistence of PPCPs, APs, EDCs, and PFCs in the Ohio River and selected tributaries are reported. The primary focus was to document the occurrence and concentrations of CECs in the main-stem of the Ohio River and several tributaries. Concentrations of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, steroid hormones, and fluorinated chemicals are reported for tributaries and positions on the mainstem of the Ohio River.