Current Toxic Pollution: Coal-fired Power Plants, Pesticides and Pharmaceuticals

Detroit River Photo: Carmen Abrego

In addition to removing legacy contaminants (PCBs, Mercury, Dioxin, and DDT), it is also important to reduce the input of new toxins and persistent chemicals. Contamination problems in our lakes and rivers are further exacerbated by emerging chemical inputs like pharmaceutical bi-products, mercury emissions from coal-fired electrical utilities, basin-wide garbage burning, and many other toxins.

As our waterways are contaminated by toxins, there are potentially serious health risks to Canadian and American fish consumers and anglers who rely on fish for their food. Individuals who are most affected by fish contaminants are women of child-bearing age and children. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is emitted from coal-fired power plants. Mercury seeps into the land and accumulates where it builds up in fish.

It is up to each one of us to eliminate the amount of toxins in our homes.

For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/pollutants.html.

Take Action: Reduce your use of toxins!

Consider the following:

• Reduce or eliminate your use of pesticides
• Use non-toxic cleaning products
• Carefully dispose of oil, paint, solvents, and other products at Hazardous Waste Collection Days in your community
• Do not use a burn barrel to dispose of trash
• Dispose of medications properly (do not flush them down the toilet)

- by Carmen Abrego

The Legacy of Toxic Contamination

Detroit River Photo: Carmen Abrego

The Great Lakes are home to a $4.5 billion sport fishing industry. Anglers across the Great Lakes enjoy world class fishing for walleye, lake trout, and other sport fish. However, many of those fish are not safe to eat in large quantities, particularly for children, women of childbearing age, and other sensitive populations.

All of the Great Lakes and their tributary rivers are covered by fish consumption advisories for one or more toxic pollutants. Forty-three sites around the region are designated “areas of concern,” where pollution has caused a dramatic impact on the ecosystem, marring these sites with more severe fish consumption advisories, beach closings, habitat loss, and other impacts. We must clean up the legacy of toxic pollution in the Lakes while preventing new inputs, if we want to safely eat fish from the Lakes and restore some balance to the ecosystem.

Fortunately, we can act to clean up these areas. Our experience shows us we can use modern technologies to safely remove and dispose of this contamination, thus reducing human health risks and giving us fish that are safe to eat. The Great Lakes Legacy Act has successfully begun to clean up some of the contaminated sites.

In 2005, the Black Lagoon of the Detroit River, contaminated with pollutants such as mercury and PCBs, was successfully cleaned up from Great Lakes Legacy Act funding. In fact, over 160 pounds of PCBs, 300,000 pounds of grease and oil, 360 pounds of mercury, 38,000 pounds of lead, and 140,000 pounds of zinc were removed from the site! Since the cleanup, the Black Lagoon has been renamed as Elias Cove.

For more information go to: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/sediment/legacy/glla_projects.html.

Take Action:
In addition to removing legacy contaminants, it’s also important to reduce the input of new toxins and persistent chemicals.

Consider the following:

• Reduce or eliminate your use of pesticides
• Use non-toxic cleaning products
• Carefully dispose of oil, paint, solvents, and other products at Hazardous Waste Collection Days in your community
• Do not use a burn barrel to dispose of trash
• Dispose of medications properly (do not flush them down the toilet)

- by Carmen Abrego

Water Pollution and the Clean Water Act of 1972

Ohio DNR Clean-up on Cuyahoga River Photo: Cuyahoga County

Since 1936, the Cuyahoga River was polluted with oils, sludge, industrial wastes, sewage and debris. In 1969, a slick of industrial waste caught fire on the river. This fire drew national attention which led to the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the formation of federal and state environmental protection agencies.

The main objective of the Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966 and the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970, is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s systems. The goal is to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the navigated waters for the protection of aquatic and wildlife habitat. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been given the legal authority necessary in accomplishing these goals and objectives. The EPA is responsible for drinking water quality from the Bureau of Water Hygiene and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/.

Take Action: We need your continued help in protecting the Great Lakes. Sign up to attend our upcoming “Great Lakes 101” webinar on Tuesday, November 10 from 2 to 3pm (EST). During the webinar you will learn more about Sierra Club’s Great Lakes Program, key concerns within the region, and ways in which you can help protect the Lakes. Sign up by contacting melissa.damaschke@sierraclub.org.

- by Carmen E. Abrego

Ste. Claire, Detroit, Michigan Photo: Carmen Abrego

Invasive species, toxic chemicals, urban and agricultural runoff, and aging sewage, which degrade coastal habitat and water quality, cause major harm to the Great Lakes. Researchers for the Michigan Sea Grant, in collaboration with the Great Lakes Coalition and many organizations are working to protect the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Initiative is the greatest investment for maintaining clean waterways.

Federal, state and local governments play a significant role in addressing key issues on Great Lakes “biological pollution.” In control of aquatic invasive species, the U. S. Congress has proposed strict ballast water quality regulations for oceangoing vessels entering the Great Lakes.

The water quality standards are designed to block aquatic invasive species from being discharged into the Great Lakes. The State Department of Natural Resources estimates over 180 invasive species which include fish, plants, insects and other organisms. These invasive species have had an enormous impact on the ecosystems, and fishing industry, as well as tourism. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has adopted ballast discharge permit regulations for oceangoing vessels to discharge ballast water at sea and rinse tanks with sea water. Citizens of the Great Lakes can be proactive in the environmental stewardship programs in protecting the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes. Thanks to President Obama in making this issue a priority and to those who care to have “Healthy Lakes and Healthy Lives.” Visit http://www.healthylakes.org/.

For more information visit: http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/, http://www.greatlakesforall.com/, http://www.oceancommission.gov/, and http://www.uscg.mil/.

Take Action: Join your local state Sierra Club chapter and become proactive in protecting the Great Lakes. Read about the Great Lakes Legacy Act. See what you can do to help.

- by Carmen E. Abrego

Invasive Species: Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife Photo: Michigan Sea Grant

The flowers of the purple loosestrife are purple to magenta and bloom from July to September. It is considered an aquatic invasive species as it thrives in wetlands and eliminates native plants animals depend on for shelter and resting.

The purple loosestrife arrived in North American during the 1800s. The plants were brought by settlers for their gardens. Seeds were present in the ballast holds of European ships that used soil to weigh down the vessels for stability on the ocean. The purple loosestrife spread westward to Canada and the United States.

The problem with the purple loosestrife is that it can grow rapidly which degrades the wetlands where fish and wildlife feed, seek shelter, reproduce and rear young. The fish become choked by the stems of the purple loosestrife. Thousands of wetlands, marshes, pastures and meadows are affected in North America which also impacts the economy.

For more information on the prevention of purple loosestrife visit: http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/, http://www.dnr.wi.gov/, http://www.protectyourwaters.net/

Take Action: Simple guidelines can be followed in controlling the spread of purple loosestrife on the Michigan Sea Grant web site.

- by Carmen E. Abrego

Aquatic Invasive Species: Sea Lamprey

Sea Lamprey Photo: Michigan Sea Grant

The sea lamprey are one of the first aquatic invasive species to invade the Great Lakes. The shipping industry brought them into the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Sea lamprey have a large mouth for sucking. Part of their life cycle is spent feeding parasitically on the blood of host fish. The most distinguishable feature of the sea lamprey is the tooth-studded oral disk. They attach to fish with their sucking mouth and sharp teeth and suck out the prey’s body fluids. Sea lamprey are the major cause of low populations in lake trout, white fish, and chub in the Great Lakes during the 1940s and 1950s.

Sea lamprey prey on a number of Great Lakes species such as lake trout, salmon, rainbow trout (steelhead), whitefish, chubs, walleye, catfish, and sturgeon. As sea lamprey have had an enormous impact on the fishing industry, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Fisheries and Oceans of Canada and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have participated in the control of sea lamprey. An electrical barrier was constructed on the Ocqueoc River to help block sea lampreys during flood-prone streams.

For more information visit: http://www.mi.gov/, http://www.glfc.org/, http://www.usgs.gov/, http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/ and http://www.glc.org/.

Take Action: Report sightings of sea lampreys to your local Department of Natural Resources office.

- by Carmen E. Abrego

Aquatic Invasive Species: Phragmites

Phragmites, photo courtesy of Michigan Sea Grant

Phragmites, an invasive plant species, also known as common reed, is a tall perennial grass. The plant is distinguished by its huge structure and grows up to 15 feet in height. The grass grows in shallow wetlands and waterways throughout the Great Lakes, eliminating natural vegetation and degrading fish and wildlife habitat. The tall grass reduces the ecological functions and values of wetlands. Waterbirds and small mammals find cover among the large stems. The plant creates dense stands which crowd out native plants and animals blocking shoreline views, reducing access for swimming, fishing, and hunting, also creating fire hazards from dry plant material.

Ducks Unlimited, a non-profit organization working on wetlands conservation, recently received $155,000 to fight this invasive species that is rapidly growing in Saginaw Bay and throughout the Great Lakes. The request for funding was submitted by Senator Debbie Stabenow. This funding helps meet the objectives of the Great Lakes Collaboration Strategy and the MI Great Lakes Plan.

Take Action! See the “Landowners Guide to Phragmites Control.” For further information visit www.michigan.,gov/DEQ, www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/phrag.asp, http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/, and www.ducks.org/states/24/news/pub/articles2007.html and http://www.glrc.us/.

- by Carmen E. Abrego