Linda Schweitzer

Presence of Pharmaceuticals and Pesticides in Detroit River Water and the Effect of Ozone on Removal

Reports by different scientific groups indicate concern about traces of drugs that could make their way into tap water. Studies indicate that activated carbon and ozone are promising treatment methods to remove traces of pharmaceuticals and pesticides. The Windsor Utilities Commission (WUC), Windsor, Ontario, Canada, evaluated the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals in its raw water supply, and the effectiveness of ozone in removing these compounds. The analysis indicated that trace levels of compounds such as carbamazepine, caffeine, cotinine, and atrazine were detected in raw water and that treatment with ozone resulted in a greater removal versus conventional treatment.

Growth of estuarine fish is associated with the combined concentration of sediment contaminants and shows no adaptation or acclimation to past conditions

We tested whether the growth rates of small benthic fish (Gillichthys mirabilis) in three southern California estuaries corresponded with the local concentrations of contaminants. Fish originating from each estuary were transplanted to cages in each estuary in two reciprocal transplant experiments. The growth rates of caged fish, and the size-distribution of natural populations, showed the same pattern of difference among estuaries. Twelve metals and organic contaminants occurred in bulk sediments at concentrations close to their individual ERL values, and a simple index of their combined concentration (the mean ERL quotient) was inversely correlated to the growth of caged fish. Metals in the water column occurred at lower concentrations, relative to toxicity thresholds, than those in sediments and were unrelated to fish growth. Fish used in the field caging experiments, and other fish held in the laboratory under constant conditions, showed no difference in growth according to their estuary of origin. Fish originating from different estuaries also showed no consistent differences in their tissue burden of organic contaminants. Our results thus suggested no genetic adaptation or physiological acclimation to the past contaminant regime, but revealed a possible association between fish growth rates and the combined concentration of multiple sediment contaminants.

The Effect of Ozone on Cold Water Coagulation

The application of pre-coagulation ozone in drinking water treatment to provide primary disinfection, has an impact on coagulation and flocculation, and needs to be evaluated further for cold water temperatures, especially when accompanied by episodes of high alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Ozone application to raw water, prior to the addition of coagulants and coagulant aides, was shown to reduce coagulant and coagulant aide doses, and improve settled and filtered water turbidity. The impact on particle count was also noticeable, filtered water particle count was reduced after the application of pre-coagulation ozonation. Pilot-scale experiments were conducted at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, to investigate the effect of pre-coagulation ozonation, on filtered water turbidity, particle count, and filter performance, during periods when water temperatures could be lower than 5°C.

Index analysis and human health risk model application for evaluating ambient air-heavy metal contamination in Chemical Valley Sarnia

The impacts of air emissions as a consequence of industrial activities around communities of human habitation have been extensively reported. This study is the first to assess potential adverse human health effects in the Chemical Valley Sarnia (CVS) area, around the St. Clair River, using health risk models, ecological and pollution indices. Large quantities of particulate matters (PM) are generated from anthropogenic activities, which contain several heavy metals in trace quantities with potentially adverse effects to humans and environmental health. The distribution, and human health impact assessment of trace element concentrations in PM fractions were examined. Elemental concentrations of As, Cd, Cr (VI), Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn were determined in the PM size-segregated samples collected from the CVS area between 2014 and 2017. The results showed relatively high concentration of PM<2.5 (87.19±8.1(mgm3)) which is approximately 4 times the WHO air quality guidelines. Pb concentration (143.03 ± 46.87ηg/m3) was 3.6 times higher than the air quality standards of NAAQS. Cr (VI) showed moderate to considerable contamination ( Cf=4) in the CVS while Cr (VI), Pb, and Ni had enrichment factor Ef < 3 (minimal), signifying contributions from anthropogenic activities. Pollution load index (PLi) value observed was 1.4 indicating human health risk from the PM, especially for the children in the area. The deposition fluxes (DΦ) showed that PM-bound metals could potentially bypass the head airways and cause damages to the tracheobronchial tree, increasing the human health risks of nephroblastomasis development. The main route of entry for the heavy metal bound PM in humans were observed as through ingestion and inhalation. The highest total excess cancer risks observed for children (6.7×10-4) and adult (1.0×10-4) indicating potential cancer effects. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) increased from Pb < Ni < Cd < Cr (VI) < As. Overall, children are more likely to develop carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects from exposures to elemental concentrations of airborne PM in the study area.

Distribution, sources, and behavior of trace elements in the Clinton River Watershed, Michigan

ABSTRACT The Clinton River watershed near Detroit, Michigan, USA was separated in six different land uses: agricultural, residential, mixed industrial and residential, downstream industrial, Clinton River Spillway, and Lake St. Clair, utilizing As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents of the sediment that has median values of 3, 0.3, 15, 14, 13, and 57 mg kg-1, respectively. However, trace element concentrations in the lower Clinton River rivaled those in the most contaminated watersheds of the world. Enrichment factors and principal component analysis (PCA) separated trace elements into 2 categories: anthropogenic (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and geogenic (Al, As, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, TOC) sources. PCA linked agricultural, residential, and mixed industrial and residential land uses to anthropogenic Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and lake sediments to geogenic elements, organic matter and clay contents. The downstream industrial zone has a unique source signature. Trace element concentrations varied with land use. The upper Clinton River (>20 km from mouth; residential land use; median concentrations up to 25 mg kg-1) appeared to meet delisting criteria. Partitioning was also land use and element specific with: (1) exchangeable fraction (up to 94% of total) related to road salt and mobile chloride complex formation; (2) carbonate-bound fraction (up to 100%) resulting from Ca substitution or adsorption; (3) presence of immobile (hydr)oxide-bound fraction (up to 90%) instead of potentially mobile organic matter and sulphide-bound fraction (up to 20%); and (4) residual fraction (up to 65%) originating from geogenic and/or anthropogenic sources.

Water Contamination and Pollution

Water pollution is the presence of chemical, physical, or biological components or factors producing a condition of impairment of a given water body with respect to some beneficial use. The level of contamination necessary to render a water body impaired is highly dependent on the type of water body, its location, and the types of beneficial uses it supports. A water deemed unfit for drinking by humans may be suitable for other uses, such as habitat, irrigation, or recreation. Although certain natural events can cause water pollution, we will focus herein on the anthropogenic sources of pollution, that is, pollution arising from human activities.