Emerging Contaminants

What are emerging contaminants?

Emerging contaminants, or contaminants of emerging concern, can refer to many different kinds of chemicals, including medicines, personal care or household cleaning products, lawn care and agricultural products, among others. One of the ways they end up in our waterways is through wastewater treatment plant discharges. These facilities were not designed to remove them.

What is the problem with emerging
contaminants?

These chemicals make it into our nation’s lakes and rivers and have a detrimental effect on fish and other aquatic species. They have also been shown to bioaccumulate up the food web – putting even non-aquatic species at risk when they eat contaminated fish. The USGS monitors and assesses these dangerous chemicals from their source all the way through the food web (USGS).

Examples of emerging contaminants:

PER AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in consumer products since the 1940s. Known as “forever” chemicals because they do not break down in nature, they are widely used in firefighting equipment, non-stick pans, food wrappers, raincoats, carpet and industrial uses due to their ability to dissolve in both oil and water. There are over 4,700 PFAS compounds. PFAs are highly toxic to humans and some forms bioaccumulate in our bodies. PFAS exposure may increase the incidence of thyroid disease, decrease fertility in women, cause developmental issues in infants and older children, and increase blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They have also been linked to increased risks of
kidney and testicular cancer. (EPA) MICROPLASTICS are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life. Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including from larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller and smaller pieces, to lentil sized primary microplastics known as “nurdles” that are produced by the petrochemical industry to be used in the production of bags and other single-use plastic packaging. In addition, microbeads, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as some cleansers and toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass-through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and Great Lakes, posing a threat to aquatic life and drinking water sources. (NOAA)

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) are a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. They also are produced when coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, and tobacco are burned. PAHs generated from these sources can bind to or form small particles in the air. Several of the PAHs and some specific mixtures of PAHs are considered to be cancer-causing chemicals (EPA).

1,4-DIOXANE is a synthetic industrial chemical that mixes completely in water. It persists for a very long time in the environment and is associated with many health risks. Manufacturers often use it as a solvent to create other chemicals like those found in cosmetics, detergents, shampoos, paint strippers, glues, pesticides, medicines and foods. It is also used in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and is a byproduct in the production of certain plastic containers. The EPA suspects 1,4-dioxane may cause cancer when people are exposed to it through air, water, or by skin contact over time. Short-term exposure effects include eye and nose irritation. Other long-term exposure effects may include liver and kidney damage (HRWC).