Long Island Sound (LIS) is a major urban estuary located along the east coast of the United States. It is semi-enclosed by states and islands in all directions. LIS is bordered by the State of Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York (NY) on its southern shore. To its west it connects to the NY metropolitan area and to the east it is closed off by Block Island and Fishers Island Sounds. Due to the restricted transport and dispersal of contaminants, LIS is susceptible to enhanced anthropogenic impacts. Sewage effluent, industrial discharge, agricultural and urban runoff, atmospheric deposition, combined inputs from major rivers, and disposal of dredged material are the major routes of contaminants into LIS (1). There is a correlation that the number of marine systems that become exposed to both treated and untreated wastewater discharges increases, as there are concurrent increases in population around coastal areas. The environmental quality of receiving waters may be compromised due to thousands of different chemicals released via sewage inputs. Over the last decade there has been a growing interest on a specific chemical known as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Antimicrobials, fragrances, therapeutic drugs, some polymers, and surfactants are all categorized as PPCPs. In developed countries, most wastewater are treated in order to ensure that the majority of the chemicals, or a very significant portion of the chemicals, are removed
The Chesapeake Bay is a 200-mile-long estuary extending from Norfolk, VA to Havre de grace Maryland. On average this bay contains about 68 trillion liters of water. This bay is the largest estuary in North America. It inhabits more than 3,000 species of plants, animals, and fish. “Since the early twentieth century, the Chesapeake Bay has experienced serious environmental degradation. Problems include large reductions in sea grass, reduced amounts of finfish and shellfish (especially oysters and crab), seasonal depletions in dissolved oxygen, and increases in sedimentation.” (Atkins & Anderson, 2003) These changes are brought on by pollution (Eutrophication and Toxic Contamination), development, deforestation, and agriculture. And according
From 1947 to 1977, these two plants legally discharged from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson, and unknowingly saturated the bedrock beneath both sites with at least that much again. There are PCBs in Hudson River water, biota, and sediment from Hudson Falls to New York City - 200 miles that comprise the nations largest Superfund site. Pure PCBs are oozing out of the bedrock to this day, constantly recontaminating the river and over 300,000 pounds remain concentrated in bottom sediments of the river today. The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain, which it supports, has created one of the most extensive hazardous waste problems in the nation. Polychlorinated biphenyl’s (PCBs) are a group of synthetic oil-like chemicals (therefore insoluble in water) of the organochlorine family. Until their toxic nature was recognized and their use was banned in the 1970s, they were widely used as insulation in electrical equipment, particularly transformers. Reputable chemists have since concluded, “it was probably a mistake ever to make or use PCBs.” These are serious poisons, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive, neurological and immune systems of wildlife and humans and are known to cause cancer. Exposure has also been linked to behavioral damage. Specifically, because PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible
Living on the Hawaiian island of Oahu offers its own beauty like no other island in the chain. No Hawaiian island is the same; each one has something different to offer, as they all have beaches and hikes. The island of Oahu is a beautiful and interesting place thanks to its diverse beaches and spectacular hiking trails. Laniakea beach and Pupukea Beach Park are two of the best beaches on the North shore for snorkeling, scuba diving and merely wading in the water.
Water contamination is vastly becoming an alarming issue across the world. We rely on clean water to survive, yet right now we are heading towards a water crisis. Changing climate patterns are threatening lakes and rivers, and key sources that we tap for drinking water are being overdrawn or tainted with pollution (www.nrdc.org). Clean and plentiful water is the cornerstone of prosperous communities. Yet as we enter the 21st century, swelling demand and changing climate patterns are
One of the most poorly understood causes ocean pollution is urban runoff. Urban runoff is also one of the leading causes of ocean pollution, Surfrider agrees, “Urban runoff is often the primary source of ocean pollution. The Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) Program educates and assists people in creating landscapes that utilize native plants, permeable ground covers and water retention features to prevent urban runoff, create wildlife habitats and design beautiful spaces” (Surfrider). Surfrider has a program called The Ocean Friendly Gardens where Surfrider
The Long Island Sound is a vital resource used by both humans and wildlife. The quality of its water is an issue that affects everyone and everything. Scientific studies and continuous monitoring provide evidence as to what actions need to be taken to improve and restore the water quality. In more ways than one, the United States government has devoted much of its time to ensure the revival and protection of the Long Island Sound.
Ocean pollution is such a broad topic, and one that has many facets to it. As a group, we found it to be a very intriguing topic that it relevant to our everyday lives. As New Jersey residents, we have all spent time at the Jersey shore. We have all enjoyed the small and big beach towns, the sand, and of course
Salt Spring Island of British Columbia in the nineteenth century, was filled with hatred. For those who were not of White descent they would soon realize that there was a clear separation between the Whites, Blacks, and Aboriginals. This division is crucial to understand as the Whites were the settlers to this area meaning they took over the land and had a great deal of authority. They manipulated the Blacks into following their social and moral regulations, but were incapable of doing the same for the Indians. Consequently, a rivalry occurred since not all Aboriginals could accept being a means to an end for the Whites. In other words, there was a common ideology amongst the Whites that justice must be served to those Indians who decided to disregard the law.
The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary with six major tributaries, the James, the Potomac, the Susquehanna, the Patuxent, the York, and the Rappahannock Rivers, feeding into the bay from various locations in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia (Chemical Contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay – Workshop Discussion 1). These areas depend on the Bay as both an environmental and an economic resource. Throughout the last 15 years the Chesapeake Bay has suffered from elevated levels of pollution. Nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater treatment plants, farmland, air pollution, and development all lead to reduced water clarity and lowered oxygen levels, which harm fish, crabs, oysters and
Although sewage systems are able to provide a great deal of sanitation to water before it is released back into a source, the risk of raw sewage overflowing into water sources poses several issues. Not only can raw sewage contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli, it can also negatively affect aquatic life. Human waste typically contains high levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, and other nutrients that are useful for people but can cause many issues in an aquatic environment (Burkholder et. al., 2011). Much of these elements are removed during wastewater treatment, but if they are sent directly to a water source due to flooding, they can cause algae blooms and harm
Often, toxic substances are being drained into the air, waterways, and undergrounds wells. According to the report by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 60 million pounds of deadly chemicals are produced by industries in Florida. Notably, Florida’s water has been suffering mercury contamination until the state’s department of migration issues a circular regularly for regulations of eating freshwater fish in the region (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). In fact, such metals emanate from coal combustion’s emissions which run into water bodies. Not to mention, pesticides and herbicides utilized by government and homeowners pollute the environment (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). Indeed, all chemicals released into the atmosphere find themselves in rivers.
In the course of the past year or so, the world has under gone immense natural disasters. Including but not limited to: hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires, blizzards, and more. These unfortunate events all have a source of which they occurred. At the same time, the world’s oceans have under gone less noticeable but apparent changes as well. These changes include temperature variations, heightened acidification, intensified salinity, and more. However, a specific issue is the effect of Indiana’s activities impacting ocean life through nutrient and sediment pollution. There is a multifarious number of reasons that could affect ocean life, even in Indiana, which one will discuss throughout this report. One will describe sediment runoff, the
New York City’s ground and surface waters are being contaminated with heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and nutrients that have an adverse effect on human health (Bharali, 2007). However, eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) act as nature’s biofiltration system, each providing ~50 gallons of purified water per day (Merrill, 2014). New York harbor once had up to 350 square miles of oysters, producing roughly about 300,000 bushels a year (Nigro, 2011). Today, that population has substantially decreased due to the effect of bacterial contamination, over harvesting, pollution and sewage (Munoz, et al. 2010). Only a small number of oysters remain in the NYC harbor, and that damage cannot be fixed without proactive conservation
Wardrop, P., Shimeta, J., Nugegoda, D., Morrison, P. D., Miranda, A., Tang, M., & Clarke, B. O. (2016). Chemical pollutants sorbed to ingested microbeads from personal care products accumulate in fish. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(7), 4037.
Although the state of America’s water infrastructure is of great concern, the types of chemicals found in America’s tap water are equally as frightening. The passage of the Water Act in 1972 prevents the direct dumping of hazardous chemicals directly into waterways, and helps regulate quality standards of water. However, the Clean Water Act is has no jurisdiction on regulating indirect dumping of chemicals that integrates into water supplies. Pesticides and prescription drugs are the greatest cause for concern of indirect containments in America’s water supply (Olsen). An abundance of the harmful chemicals found in liquefied animals feces, used in large dairy states, have percolated into drinking wells that have caused serious infections (Duhigg). However, more harmful containments are infiltrating water supplies. Such containments include