Water Contamination: It’s Not Just About What’s on the Surface
Photo Credit: Ajay Tallam- IMG_4918 via photopin (license)
Did you know that surface water pollution greatly impacts water quality worldwide? In turn, are you also aware of its possible effects on the health of all living organisms?
In this week’s blog post, I will be examining a research study conducted by specialists in Missouri¹ who set out to determine the prevalence of two distinct chemical toxins—bisphenol A (BPA) and ethinyl estradiol (EE2). By collecting surface water samples near wastewater treatment plants and areas that permit the release of pollutants into the air, the team was able to evaluate how much or how little these contaminates impacted the surrounding environment.
However, before we dive into their findings, let’s discuss what surface water pollution is in more detail:
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, surface water—originating from oceans, lakes, or streams—becomes contaminated “when hazardous substances come into contact and either dissolve or physically mix with the water." Additionally, any soil and sand found within the polluted area are also regarded as components of surface water contamination. (from Surface Water Contamination)
But what is the leading cause of surface water pollution and how does it directly affect us and our environment? This week’s featured researchers from Missouri can easily answer these important questions.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are found in industrial wastewater discharges, agricultural operations, and from some natural sources, have been known to disrupt the delicate balance of hormones within living organisms. Although an imbalance such as this can lead to many unfavorable health-related issues, estrogenicity is said to predominate contaminated surface water if it is not chemically treated in the proper way.
Since BPA and EE2 have been proven to alter estrogen based hormones, the team hypothesized that the greatest amounts of these two compounds would generally be found in waters closest to industrial sites. However, after the water samples² were analyzed, the specialists discovered that BPA was present at all of the tested sites while EE2 was nowhere to be found.
Here are a few facts about some of Missouri’s surface water BPA levels:
Releasing BPA into the atmosphere considerably pollutes surface water—elevated concentrations of airborne BPA releases were observed to be 3-10 times higher than normal surface water measurements (resulting in an increase of water contamination).
BPA chemical pollutants stemming from groundwater leachates, originating from landfills, were responsible for 84% of the recorded surface water estrogenicity.
Near the end of the study, the researchers stated that air pollution has been recognized to be directly linked to water contamination; however, when BPA transportation and destruction is concerned, there have not been any environmentally friendly considerations taking place even though BPA levels in the atmosphere have been increasing around the globe.
So, what’s the bottom line about surface water contamination due to deteriorating chemical compounds such as BPA?
Any form of industrial, agricultural, and natural decay that is released into the environment can potentially alter surface water concentrations which, in turn, impact the health and well-being of all living organisms.
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¹ from the University of Missouri and the Columbia Environmental Research Center
² sites in Missouri tested: Crooked River near Richmond, Flat Creek near Jenkins, Missouri River at Riverside Park/Kansas City, James River Delaware Access at Nixa, Perche Creek, and Peruque Creek near O’Fallon
Source: Kassotis, Christopher D., David A. Alvarez, Julia A. Taylor, Frederick S. vom Saal, Susan C. Nagel, & Donald E. Tillitt. “Characterization of Missouri surface waters near point sources of pollution reveals potential novel atmospheric route of exposure for bisphenol A and wastewater hormonal activity pattern.” Science of the Total Environment, Volumes 524-525. 15 August 2015. 384-393. Retrieved from doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.013.
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