Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Ohio 1950’s-1970’s Water Pollution • 1968 Cuyahoga River, flowing through Cleveland set on fire destroying seven bridges • Many areas of the Great Lakes (rivers, channels, bays) heavily polluted as the Cuyahoga LOVE CANAL (Niagara Falls, NY) • 1930 - 1950’s Hooker Chemical (Occidental) used ditch to dump chemical wastes in barrels (over 80 different chemicals, 20,000 tons) • 1953 Land sold to city for $1 • City develops area, builds schools and houses around area, playgrounds over the site • Organic flammable compounds were commonly disposed in rivers (sewer systems) • 1960’ common children pastime was to set small fires on the water LOVE CANAL (Niagara Falls, NY) • Canal excavated in 1892 by W T Love for commercial purposes Canal not completed • Served as a recreation area after failure LOVE CANAL • Winter 1976 - 77 Heavy rain/snow – vegetation dies, rubber disintegrates – dogs develop sores – appearance of puddles of toxic or noxious substance, basement flooded – claims of miscarriages, birth defects, blood and liver abnormalities – Beverly Paigen does systematic study, and find link between “wet” homes and wet” the above 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 LOVE CANAL LOVE CANAL • 1978 State identified numerous toxic and noxious chemicals – benzene, dioxin, dichloroethylene, chloroform • Families (600) demand state to relocate them (at state expense) LOVE CANAL LOVE CANAL - Remediation • Site lined with thick plastic and covered with impermeable clays Barriers to prevent groundwater movement built around site • Contaminated soil and sediment removed and treated • Area considered clean Homes back in the market • Area being monitored permanently • State and Federal government buy and destroy over 200 homes • By 1990 $275 million spent in cleanup LOVE CANAL - What went wrong? • Life of container not known Integrity of containers holding chemicals was compromised • Bureaucracy lost track of site history • Construction practices increased infiltration accelerated problem Love Canal - Benefits • Raised citizen awareness about hazardous waste • Triggered or aided critical environmental legislation (superfund sites - CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) • Brought attention to the numerous potential problem sites and need for sound and safe waste management practices • You can now buy a house there for a really cheap price ;) 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Water Pollution • Pollutant – Any substance that does not belong in the natural system and disrupts the natural balance • Water Pollution – Degradation of water quality in a manner that disrupts/prevents its intended or original use • Surface Water • Groundwater HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAZMAT • Listed waste (recognized as hazardous by prior legislation/testing.) • Characteristic waste that exhibits one or more of the following: – – – – FLAMABLE EXPLOSIVE IRRITANT OR SENSITIZER ACIDIC OR CAUSTIC – TOXIC • Mixture of nonhazardous and hazardous waste • Not specifically excluded from regulation (i.e if we don’t know we assume it to be hazardous) Hazardous Substances • Heavy Metals (neurotoxins) – Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Mercury Arsenic Cadmium, Tin, Chromium, Zinc, Copper HAZARDOUS WASTE 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • A waste/combination of wastes, which b/c of its concentration, quantity, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness, or Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of TOXIC MATERIALS • A material is said to be toxic if it is in one of the following categories: – Allergens and immune system depressants – Neurotoxins – Mutagens – Teratogens – Carcinogens • Ricin, a protein found in castor beans, is the most toxic substance known Hazardous Substances • Non-biodegradable Synthetic and Natural Organic Chemicals – Most troublesome are Halogenated Hydrocarbons Contain: Chlorine, Fluorine, Bromine, or Iodine Chlorinated hydrocarbons most common •Arsenic •Skin numbness, thickening, discoloration, cancer •Developmental problems due to their ability to mimic Hormones, or disrupt metabolic pathways 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Water pollution contaminant types • Infectious agents • Oxygen-demanding Wastes • Plant nutrients and cultural eutrophication • Toxic tides • Inorganic Pollutants – Metals, nonmetallic salts, acids and bases • Organic Chemicals • Sediment • Thermal Pollution and thermal shocks MCL and secondary MCL Threshold • MCL=Maximum Contaminant Level – The highest concentration of a pollutant allowed in drinking water by law – Concentration above which adverse health affects are believed to occur Linear • Secondary MCL – Concentration of a pollutant above which the water is unpleasant in odor or taste – May not be hazardous to your health at that level Pollution Sources • Point-source – Smokestack / industrial effluent – Oil Tanker spill • Non point source – Atmospheric deposition – Farm field runoff Hormesis Surface Water • Sustains numerous ecosystems that fulfill important roles in biogeochemical cycles and the water cycle • Source (major?) of food • Major source of drinking water • Recreational/aesthetic value 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Surface Water • Photosynthetic organisms (light is essential) – Phytoplankton - microscopic, floaters • green algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria – Benthic Plants • Submerged (plant fully under water) – pond weed, muskgrass • Emergent (plants partial above water) – water lilies, cattails Surface Water • Non photosynthetic organism consumers Includes floating, swimmers, benthic – Zooplankton - microscopic, floaters – Fish, Amphibians (froggies ), Reptiles (Crocs, Turtles, Snakes) – Mollusks (snails, clams), Crustaceans (crayfish) – Birds (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) – Mammals (otters, raccoons, muskrats …) Essentials • Light - essential for primary producers • Oxygen - essential for all consumers • Nutrients - in balanced quantities to maintain equilibrium between populations Light • Photic or Euphotic Zone –Depth to which adequate light for photosynthesis can penetrate –Controlled by amount of particulate matter (sediment, plankton, and organic debris) in the water column 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Oxygen • Dissolved Oxygen – DO – Amount of oxygen available in the water – Oxygen in water maintained by • exchange with the atmosphere • Production of oxygen by photosynthetic organisms (vegetation) • Circulation of water (essential to maintain oxygen levels in deeper portions) – Oxygen consumed by decaying organic matter and oxygen breathing organism BOD • Biochemical Oxygen Demand –Measure of the amount of oxygen required for the aerobic degradation of organic and non-organic compounds in the water –Highly polluted waters have very high BOD implying that oxygen is consumed rapidly Note: this diagram is specifically for a point source on a stream Nutrients • Supplied by –Recycled internally through decay of the organic matter –Sediments and particulate matter from land sources Oligotrophic Condition • Under normal conditions (preanthropogenic perturbation) most surface water are: low in nutrients (particularly phosphorous and nitrogen) well oxygenated have few particulates in the water column 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Pollution Effects • Excess suspended sediments and particulate matter, and nutrient rich runoff (rich in phosphorous and nitrogen) upset balance of surface water • Suspended sediments and particulate matter cutoff light to benthic photosynthetic plants and diminish oxygen production at depth Pollution Effects • Oxygen is not replenished and oxygen breathing organism die off • Excess organic matter in the bottom causes bacteria population to increase further limiting oxygen availability • Water is only capable of sustaining phytoplankton/algae, bacteria and few organism which not require oxygen or light Pollution Effects • Excess nutrients in runoff and incoming water stimulates high production of plankton Turbidity of water increases further decreasing light penetration Benthic plants die and epiphytic algae are the only bottom plant • Plankton productivity results in excess accumulation of organic matter at the bottom Eutrophic Condition • Caused by the excess nutrient and sediments (sequence of event outlined in prior slides) • Major cause is the use of fertilizers, excess erosion from farmland or nutrient rich soils (deforestation), and disposal of phosphate bearing compounds (many detergents) through sewer systems 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Eutrophication in a nutshell Pollutant Direct effect Blocks light to Sediment the bottom Nutrients Chemical impact Indirect effect Ecological impact Kills benthic plants Less DO falls photosynthesis BOD and more rises decay of organic material Causes Blocks algae to light to bloom the bottom Kills benthic plants and algae decays DO falls BOD rises Reducing Eutrophication • Reduce nutrients and sediments • Chemical Treatment • Aeration • Harvesting plants • Dredging Sediment Pollution • Sediment carried at bottom of rivers (bedload) and deposited in bottom of water bodies greatly modify bottom characteristics • High bedloads or high sedimentation rates prevent a diverse bottom dwelling fauna and flora • Sediment pollution is the major environmental problem in rivers and lakes Aggradation 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Acid Mine Drainage Battery Lemon Vinegar juice Cola acid Normal rain Distilled Baking water soda Ammonia Bleach 10 11 12 13 14 Bacteria Carp, suckers, catfish, some instects Bass, bluegill, crappie pH tolerance of various organisms Snails, clams, mussels Largest variety of animals (trout, mayfly nymphs, Stonefly nymphs, caddisfly larvae) Yellowboy Artificial wetland construction 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Water Color • Clear may or may not be of high quality, but other colors may indicate certain conditions • Brown usually due to eroded soil • Green often indicates lots of algae • Oily Sheen can be caused by petroleum or chemical pollution • Reddish or orange usually due to iron oxides often in areas of historic acid mine drainage • Blackish may look bad, but is common in the fall with leaf fall Leached pigments from leaf packs can make the water look murky • Chalky usually caused by salts or detergents in the water Ocean pollutants • Toxins –PCB’s and heavy metals –Petroleum • Sewage • Solid waste • Sediment 16 Water Pollution 10 Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Valdez 16 Water Pollution 11 Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Groundwater pollutant types • Aqueous dissolved pollutants • DNAPL – Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid • LNAPL – Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Environmental Legislation • Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA)- 1965 Regulate municipal waste, protect health, reduce waste • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 Creates NEQ council, and later EPA • Ports and Waterways Safety Act (1972) • Clean Water Act (1985 Amendment to SDWA) 16 Water Pollution 12 Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Environmental Legislation • Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) - 1970 Protection of health and safety of employees in the workplace • Clean Air Act (CAA) - 1963 (amended in 70, 77, 90) • Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 1974, amended in 1986 Sets MCL’s (Maximum Contaminant Level) Environmental Legislation • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) - 1980 Superfund • Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) - 1986 16 Water Pollution 13 ... Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Surface Water • Photosynthetic organisms (light is essential) – Phytoplankton - microscopic, floaters • green algae, diatoms,... •Developmental problems due to their ability to mimic Hormones, or disrupt metabolic pathways 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Water pollution contaminant... systems 16 Water Pollution Introduction to Environmental Science 12:008/159:008 Spring 2002 Eutrophication in a nutshell Pollutant Direct effect Blocks light to Sediment the bottom Nutrients Chemical