Organic contaminants in Great Lakes tributaries: Prevalence and potential aquatic toxicity

Austin K. Baldwin; Steven R. Corsi; Laura A. De Cicco; Peter L. Lenaker; Michelle A. Lutz; Daniel J. Sullivan; Kevin D. Richards

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.137

USGS · 70169000

Organic contaminants in Great Lakes tributaries: Prevalence and potential aquatic toxicity

Austin K. Baldwin·Steven R. Corsi·Laura A. De Cicco·Peter L. Lenaker·Michelle A. Lutz·Daniel J. Sullivan·Kevin D. Richards

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Organic compounds used in agriculture, industry, and households make their way into surface waters through runoff, leaking septic-conveyance systems, regulated and unregulated discharges, and combined sewer overflows, among other sources. Concentrations of these organic waste compounds (OWCs) in some Great Lakes tributaries indicate a high potential for adverse impacts on aquatic organisms. During 2010–13, 709 water samples were collected at 57 tributaries, together representing approximately 41% of the total inflow to the lakes. Samples were collected during runoff and low-flow conditions and analyzed for 69 OWCs, including herbicides, insecticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasticizers, antioxidants, detergent metabolites, fire retardants, non-prescription human drugs, flavors/fragrances, and dyes. Urban-related land cover characteristics were the most important explanatory variables of concentrations of many OWCs. Compared to samples from nonurban watersheds (< 15% urban land cover) samples from urban watersheds (> 15% urban land cover) had nearly four times the number of detected compounds and four times the total sample concentration, on average. Concentration differences between runoff and low-flow conditions were not observed, but seasonal differences were observed in atrazine, metolachlor, DEET, and HHCB concentrations. Water quality benchmarks for individual OWCs were exceeded at 20 sites, and at 7 sites benchmarks were exceeded by a factor of 10 or more. The compounds with the most frequent water quality benchmark exceedances were the PAHs benzo[ a ]pyrene, pyrene, fluoranthene, and anthracene, the detergent metabolite 4-nonylphenol, and the herbicide atrazine. Computed estradiol equivalency quotients (EEQs) using only nonsteroidal endocrine-active compounds indicated medium to high risk of estrogenic effects (intersex or vitellogenin induction) at 10 sites. EEQs at 3 sites were comparable to values reported in effluent. This multifaceted study is the largest, most comprehensive assessment of the occurrence and potential effects of OWCs in the Great Lakes Basin to date.

Explore related subjects

Science of the Total Environment Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 41.44272637767212° to 48.951366470947725° latitude; -92.63671875° to -75.76171875° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Austin K. Baldwin, Steven R. Corsi, Laura A. De Cicco, Peter L. Lenaker, Michelle A. Lutz, Daniel J. Sullivan, Kevin D. Richards. 2016. Organic contaminants in Great Lakes tributaries: Prevalence and potential aquatic toxicity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.137

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

Mercury biomagnification across food webs with varying non-native fish presence: Implications for native fish conservation in the upper Colorado River Basin

Environmental contaminants and non-native species introductions negatively affect aquatic ecosystem conservation. Mercury (Hg) accumulates within food webs where it can biomagnify to toxic concentrations, which can be affected by altered trophic relationships from non-native species. This study examined Hg concentrations (n samples = 655) and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ( n = 746) compositions in native ( n = 313) and non-native ( n = 342) species among four river subbasins (Gunnison, Lower Green, Colorado-Dolores, and White-Yampa), in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) during 2016 and 2017 to inform the potential combined effects of Hg exposure and non-native species interactions on native fishes of conservation concern. We assessed Hg biomagnification at the fish assemblage level, compared concentrations to risk thresholds for fish and human health, and evaluated niche overlap among trophic levels across subbasins. The generalist-invertivores feeding guild had the lowest Hg concentrations (0.001–0.191 μg g −1 wet weight), and no individuals exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aquatic life criterion (0.225 μg g −1 ). Piscivores had the highest concentrations (0.008–1.840 μg g −1 ), and 74% of individuals exceeded the criterion. Biomagnification across trophic levels was observed throughout the UCRB, yet varied by subbasin, with higher magnification factors in the Lower Green and White-Yampa subbasins which also had the highest proportion of non-native species. Stable isotope compositions revealed niche overlap among native and non-native species. Additionally, trophic position varied within species among the subbasins. The proliferation of non-native species has likely reshaped food webs and may have intensified the potential threat Hg poses to native fish recovery and conservation. This study documented increased Hg concentrations relative to past assessments, suggesting that continued monitoring could assist in evaluating trends in Hg accumulation. Particularly studies that focus on sources entering the food web, vectors for accumulation, and competitive interactions among native and non-native species.

Colorado, Utah, Wyoming↗

USGS2026

Evaluating groundwater quality influences from oil field operations and other anthropogenic activities in an urban setting, Santa Fe Springs, California

Groundwater quality is often affected by anthropogenic activities in urban settings. This study examines groundwater quality in and around the Santa Fe Springs Oil Field in Los Angeles County, California, where oil and gas production commonly intersects with high density industrial, commercial and residential land uses. Utilizing a combination of new and historical data, we evaluated potential pathways that would allow for oil field formation fluids to migrate into groundwater and whether mixing may have occurred based on the distribution of groundwater and oil field formation fluid tracers in samples. Samples were analyzed for a wide array of constituents including volatile organic compounds, light hydrocarbons, major ions, and various isotopic compositions. Despite evidence of oil field infrastructure providing potential pathways of migration via uncemented annular spaces, casing breaches and historical disposal of oil field formation water in surface ponds, the distribution and occurrence of stable isotopes of water, chloride, boron, and total dissolved solids do not indicate mixing of oil field formation water and groundwater. However, methane isotopic signatures and the presence of heavier alkanes suggest gas from oil-bearing formations have migrated from depth via oil field well infrastructure. Volatile organic compound detections were mainly from manufactured compounds unrelated to oil and gas production, with a relatively limited number of petroleum hydrocarbons also detected. Volatile organic compounds were generally found in wells tapping shallow, modern aged groundwater, indicating anthropogenic activities occurring at or near land surface as the source. Study results suggest that while oil field infrastructure provides migration pathways for oil field formation fluids to be introduced into groundwater, urban land uses not related to oil and gas production are the primary drivers of groundwater quality degradation.

California↗

USGS2026

Hydrologic variability drives environmental and geospatial relationships in Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) distribution

Hydrologic variation is a primary driver of stream ecosystems. Changing hydrology can lead to assemblage shifts and alterations in suitable habitat for freshwater species. As climate change is predicted to alter flow patterns in addition to increasing water temperatures, insight into relationships between species occupancy, hydrology, and temperature is critical for understanding current and future distributions. We examined how hydrologic variability, temperature, and other environmental variables interact to influence Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) occurrence. We used Spatial Stream Network models, allowing for the incorporation of spatial autocorrelation along streams' unique dendritic network, to examine Smallmouth Bass occupancy across a range of hydrologic variation in the Ozark-Ouachita Interior Highlands, USA. Hydrologic variation was the main driver of Smallmouth Bass occurrence, with occurrence more likely in groundwater streams with low hydrologic variation and high flow permanence. For groundwater streams, occurrence was positively associated with summer stream temperature and negatively associated with annual stream temperature. As variation increased, more variables showed significant relationships with occurrence. Distance metrics were important for all models, however as hydrologic disturbance increased, flow connected distance played a lesser role and stream distance played a greater role. Hydrologic variability was the overarching determinant of Smallmouth Bass occurrence and strongly influenced the predictive importance of environmental variables and geospatial relationships. Greater hydrologic variability resulted in stronger statistical relationships between occurrence and environmental variables and an increased importance of system connectivity. As climate change alters hydrologic processes and streams become more variable, understanding and accounting for these shifting relationships is essential.

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma↗