Characterization Characterization of Emerging Contaminants and of Emerging Contaminants and Fish Health Fish Health in Pennsylvania Waters in Pennsylvania Waters SWEP Capital Chapter Lunch & Learn November 17, 2010 Kent Crawford Kent Crawford U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Pennsylvania Water Science Center Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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CharacterizationCharacterizationof Emerging Contaminants and of Emerging Contaminants and
Fish HealthFish Healthin Pennsylvania Watersin Pennsylvania Waters
SWEP Capital Chapter
Lunch & LearnNovember 17, 2010
Kent CrawfordKent CrawfordU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological Survey
Pennsylvania Water Science CenterPennsylvania Water Science Center
Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison: 1936-1988Five Grammy awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)
Four Key Concepts:
The Mediterranean Sea
Roy Orbison
Birth control pills
Fathead minnows
What are emerging contaminants?What are emerging contaminants?
•• Compounds that we are Compounds that we are just now beginning to track just now beginning to track in the environment.in the environment.
•• Many new compounds.Many new compounds.
•• Some existing compounds. Some existing compounds.
•• Also called chemicals of Also called chemicals of emerging concern.emerging concern.
•• AntioxidantsAntioxidants•• Fire retardantsFire retardants•• DisinfectantsDisinfectants•• FumigantsFumigants•• FragrancesFragrances•• Insecticides/Insecticides/
RepellantsRepellants•• NanomaterialsNanomaterials
EmergingEmerging ContaminantsContaminants
Endocrine DisruptorsEndocrine Disruptors•• Interfere with or mimic natural Interfere with or mimic natural
hormones.hormones.
•• Can cause changes in reproduction, Can cause changes in reproduction, development, and/or behavior of an development, and/or behavior of an organism.organism.
Results Results •• All 27 sites had at least 1 compound detected.All 27 sites had at least 1 compound detected.
•• 12 of the 15 (80 %) pharmaceutical compounds 12 of the 15 (80 %) pharmaceutical compounds analyzed were detected at least once. analyzed were detected at least once.
•• 16 of 31 (52 %) antibiotic compounds detected at 16 of 31 (52 %) antibiotic compounds detected at least once. least once.
•• 9 of 17 (53 %) hormone compounds9 of 17 (53 %) hormone compoundsdetected at least once.detected at least once.
•• Measured in nanograms (parts per trillion).Measured in nanograms (parts per trillion).•• No regulatory limits.No regulatory limits.•• Concentrations in surface waters are Concentrations in surface waters are miniscule when compared to pharmaceutical miniscule when compared to pharmaceutical doses.doses.
•• Acetaminophen in TylenolAcetaminophen in Tylenol325 mg325 mg
•• Acetaminophen in waterAcetaminophen in water0.00000005 mg/L0.00000005 mg/L
Mediterranean Sea
You would have to drink
6.5 billion liters of waterto get one dose of regular strength Tylenol
•• Very few detections upstream from WWTPs.Very few detections upstream from WWTPs.
•• Lots of detections downstream from WWTPs.Lots of detections downstream from WWTPs.
•• All concentrations are low (sub microgram/liter levels)All concentrations are low (sub microgram/liter levels)
Killinger Creek, Lebanon County
Sinkhole
Lititz Run, Lancaster County
ResultsResults
•• Low concentrations of some antibiotics:Low concentrations of some antibiotics:–– Several streamsSeveral streams–– ErythromycinErythromycin–– SulfamethoxyzoleSulfamethoxyzole
•• Low concentrations of some pharmaceuticalsLow concentrations of some pharmaceuticals–– Diphenhydramine (antihistamine Diphenhydramine (antihistamine –– Benadryl)Benadryl)–– Cotinine (metabolite of nicotine)Cotinine (metabolite of nicotine)–– CarbamazepineCarbamazepine
Our ability to measure contaminants currently exceeds our understanding of their environmental effects.
Ecological EffectsEcological Effects
InIn--stream Study of ECsstream Study of ECsBoulder Creek (CO)Boulder Creek (CO)
-- EffluentEffluent--dominated systems (WWTP discharge)dominated systems (WWTP discharge)-- Multiple ECs presentMultiple ECs present-- Relatively small basin sizesRelatively small basin sizes
Effects Research Effects Research ---- Boulder Creek, COBoulder Creek, CO
<0.8 ng/L2.1 ng/L 1.4 ng/L
2.9 ng/L
1.2 ng/L
17b17b--Estradiol in stream waterEstradiol in stream water
Effects Research Effects Research ---- Boulder Creek, COBoulder Creek, CO
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Upstream Downstream
18-Jun-04
Sex,
in P
erce
ntFemale Male Intersex
Pennsylvania ResultsPennsylvania Results
Intersex conditionIntersex condition
found in some Pennsylvania fishfound in some Pennsylvania fish
Intersex in BassIntersex in BassMost often observed Most often observed
microscopically as microscopically as immature oocytes within immature oocytes within testestestes
Suggested as a marker Suggested as a marker of endocrine disruptionof endocrine disruption
Used as an indicator of Used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic exposure to estrogenic compoundscompounds
Developing oocytes
Normal
Intersex
What is the Impact of Intersex?What is the Impact of Intersex?
•• Not sure.Not sure.
•• Fish still spawn.Fish still spawn.
•• Sperm are less motile.Sperm are less motile.
•• Fewer fertilized eggs?Fewer fertilized eggs?
•• Fewer baby fish?Fewer baby fish?
•• Smaller population?Smaller population?
•• Immune system compromised?Immune system compromised?
PFBC Surveys of YoungPFBC Surveys of Young--ofof--thethe--Year Year Smallmouth BassSmallmouth Bass
“Columnaris bacteria (Flavobacterium columnare) appears to be the primary pathogen” (Ken Stark PFBC, 2008)
Bacterial infection
Diseased or Dead YOY SMB Diseased or Dead YOY SMB ---- July 2007July 2007
2007
Dr. Karen KiddProfessor, University of New Brunswick
Kidd, K.A., P.J. Blanchfield, K.H. Mills, V.P. Palace, R.E. Evans, J.M. Lazorchak and R. Flick. 2007. Collapse of a fish populationfollowing exposure to a synthetic estrogen. Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences 104(21):8897‐8901.
Experimental Lakes Area
Fathead minnows
Photo courtesy of Aquatic Environmental Services, Inc.
Photo courtesy of Cornell University.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills = 17a-ethynylestradiol
Canadian StudyCanadian Study•• SevenSeven‐‐year studyyear study
•• Two similar lakesTwo similar lakes
•• Fathead minnowsFathead minnows
•• Add estrogen to one lakeAdd estrogen to one lake
Control experimental lake
Treatment experimental lake
17a-ethynylestradiol
Kidd and others, 2007
Canadian StudyCanadian Study
Control experimental lake
Treatment experimental lake
17a-ethynylestradiol
Fish population crashed
Kidd and others, 2007
Fish population O.K.
What have we learned about ECs?What have we learned about ECs?
Present at sub-ppb concentrations in water.
- Streams and Groundwater
Present as complex mixtures.
Reflect a wide range of human activities.
Some compounds mobile and persistent.
Depend on the media (water, solids, tissue) sampled.
What does it all mean ?What does it all mean ?
•• No waterNo water‐‐quality standards.quality standards.
•• No evaluation of mixtures, No evaluation of mixtures, synergistic effects.synergistic effects.
•• Few studies on human health effects.Few studies on human health effects.
DonDon’’t Panic!t Panic!
butbut……
Be ConcernedBe Concerned
Questions???Questions???
Contact:
Dr. J. Kent CrawfordU.S. Geological Survey215 Limekiln RoadNew Cumberland, Pa. 17070