Defining Environmental PollutionPHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, & MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS

MSC-210 – Marine Environmental Sampling & Analysis

Lecture 2

Environmental PollutionPollution \pə-ˈlü-shən\ (noun):

Merriam-Webster:

1. : the action of making land, water, air, etc. dirty and not safe or suitable for use

2. : the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes

Encyclopædia Britannica:

1. : the addition of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, light, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form; also called environmental pollution

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Major Types of Pollutants: By Decomposition Ability Biodegradable

Non-Biodegradable

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Major Types of Pollution: By Environment Air Pollution

Water Pollution

Land Pollution

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Major Forms of Contaminants Physical Contaminants

Chemical Contaminants

Microbial (or Biological) Contaminants

…let’s explore each of these separately…

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Physical Contaminants Particulates

Can pollute Air & Water Smog, smoke, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and dust

Turbidity and sedimentation

Emissions can be: Point-Source or Non-Point Source

Naturally-Occurring or Anthropogenic

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Physical Contaminants

Particles in Air Aerosols

Threat to human health through respiratory intake

Size matters! National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Symptoms of particulate inhalation: Decreased pulmonary function

Chronic coughs

Bronchitis

Asthmatic attacks

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Physical Contaminants

Particles in Air

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London, 1952: Great Smog Event Gobi Desert, 1998 & 2001: Dust storms

Physical Contaminants

Particles in Water Soil particles, algae, plankton, microbes, other debris Size range: 0.004 mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand)

Turbidity Can affect light transmission through water column

Can affect respiration of aquatic species

Can affect water color

Can affect pumps, hydroelectric generators, other equipment

Sedimentation Can fill lakes, dams, reservoirs, basins, and waterways

Can smother sessile, benthic species

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Physical Contaminants

Particle-Transport of Chemicals Particles may be more mobile than chemicals

Particles can carry other contaminants Adsorption

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Physical Contaminants

Chemical Contaminants What is a chemical?

Chemicals can pollute Air, Water, Soil, & Biological Tissue

Emissions can be: Point-Source or Non-Point Source

Naturally-Occurring or Anthropogenic

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Chemical Contaminants

Chemical Contaminants CAS Registry

Approximately 15,000 new substances are added to CAS Registry every day!

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Chemical Contaminants

• Organic compounds

• Inorganic compounds

• Metals

• Alloys

• Minerals

• Organometallics

• Elements

• Isotopes

• Nuclear particles

• Proteins

• Nucleic acids

• Polymers

• Non-structurable materials

(UVCBs)

Categories of Chemical Contaminants

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Chemical Contaminants

Organic: Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Chlorinated Solvents

Pesticides

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Coal Tar

Pharmaceuticals

Food Additives

Cosmetics

Gaseous compounds (CFCs & HCFCs)

Inorganic: “Salts”:

sodium, calcium, nitrate, sulfate, chloride

Heavy/Trace Metals:

lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, selenium

Radioactive: Uranium

Strontium

Cobalt

Plutonium

Radon

Sources of Chemical Contaminants

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Chemical Contaminants

Sources of Chemical Contaminants

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Chemical Contaminants

Microbial Contaminants Pathogens Small portion of microorganisms capable of causing infection

& disease in human beings

Divided into two categories:

Frank Pathogens

Opportunistic Pathogens

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Microbial Contaminants

Pathogens in the Environment Occur naturally

Can be deposited by:Natural processes

Anthropogenic processes

Can be introduced: Directly

Indirectly

Survival times vary

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Microbial Contaminants

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Primary Routes of Transmission Fecal-Oral Enteric pathogens

Stable in water and food Capable of growth outside of host Examples: E. coli & Giardia lamblia

Waterborne Transmitted through ingestion of water

Examples: Cholera & Typhoid fever; Protozoan parasites

Airborne Transmitted through the atmosphere (air currents) Example: Influenza virus

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Microbial Contaminants

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ContaminantMCLG(mg/L)

Potential Health Effects from Long-Term Exposure Above

the MCL

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water

Cryptosporidium zeroGastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps)

Human and animal fecal waste

Giardia lamblia zeroGastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps)

Human and animal fecal waste

Legionella zeroLegionnaire's Disease, a type of pneumonia

Found naturally in water; multiplies in heating systems

Total Coliforms (including fecal coliform and E. Coli)

zero

Not a health threat in itself; it is used to indicate whether other potentially harmful bacteria may be present

Naturally present in environment & feces

Turbidity n/a

Higher levels are often associated with higher levels of disease-causing microorganisms. Theseorganisms may cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

Soil runoff

Viruses (enteric) zeroGastrointestinal illness (such as diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps)

Human and animal fecal waste

US EPA Drinking Water Standards

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Class Freshwater Marine

Shellfishing 14 FC 14 FC

Based on median value. No more than 10% of FC samples may exceed 43 in the areas most probably exposed to fecal contamination.

Recreational (swimming)

200 FC 200 FC

No more than 20% of FC samples may exceed 400. Violations are expected immediatelyfollowing periods of rainfall in areas where uncontrollable nonpoint source pollution prevents attainment.

US EPA Recreational Water Standards

North Carolina

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References

•Artiola, J., Pepper, I., & Brusseau, M. (2004). Monitoring and Characterization of the Environment. In Chapters 15, 16, and 17 (pp. 281-332). San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press. Print.

•Merriam-Webster. (2015). Pollution. Merriam-Webster online. Accessed 23 Aug. 2015 at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollution

•Nathanson, J. (2015). Pollution. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Accessed 25 Aug. 2015 at: http://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment

•National Ocean Services (NOS). (2009). A Brief History of Pollution. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 11 Dec. 2009. Accessed online 24 Aug. 2015 at: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_pollution/02history.html

•US EPA. (2014). Drinking Water Contaminants: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. US Environmental Protection Agency, 29 Oct. 2014. Accessed online 23 Aug. 2015 at: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm

•US EPA. (2015). Pollution Prevention: P2 Law and Policy. US Environmental Protection Agency, 12 Aug. 2015. Accessed online 23 Aug. 2015 at: http://www2.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-law-and-policies

•US EPA. (2015). Recreational Water Quality Criteria. US Environmental Protection Agency, 21 Jul. 2015. Accessed online 23 Aug. 2015 at: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation/

Lecture Content

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References

• Title Slide & Slide 2:• Globe – www.esri.com

• Smoke Stacks – www.mannagum.org.au

• Slide 3:• 100% Biodegradable: www.doyourpart.com

• Compost pile: www.int.org

• Tires: www.greendiary.com

• Plastic Bottles: www.greenhome.com

• Slide 4:• Industrial stacks: www.nrdc.org

• BP-Macondo: www.washingtonpost.com

• Pacific Gabage Patch: www.oceanwatch.us

• Landfill: www.onslowcountync.gov

Images

• Slide 5:• Smog: www.sciencedaily.com

• Dredging: www.dredgeresearchcollaborative.org

• Waste pipe: www.pugetsoundkeeper.org

• Microbe dish: www.scientificearthconscientious6.wordpress.com

• Slide 8:• Great Smog Event – www.historyandheadlines.com

• Dust storm – www.discovermagazine.com

• Slide 17: • Microbes – www.dhmh.Maryland.gov

• Slide 18:• Tuberculosis – www.louisville.edu