General Audience Blog

General Audience Blog ~Jacob Turley, Environmental Chemist

Pesticide exposure is a prevalent problem prevalent in California and worldwide. Soil pesticides can drift into homes and people can become sick. These pesticides have been sprayed on a crops a century. The Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed hundreds of pesticides. Many have been banned because they have been found to endanger human health an

Chlordane has been banned because the EPA has found it harmful to the central nervous system and causes organ damage in mammals, birds, and fish. Although all approved chlordane uses were discontinued by the US in 1988, the chemical can still be detected in creeks and streams because of the persistence of its high sediment binding strength. Chlordane is not water-soluble (Log Kow = 2.78), but it does leech into water, bioconcentrate, and bioaccumulate. The pesticide tightly binds to organic soil because it has low polarity therefore the highest chlordane concentrations are found in creek sediments.

Sediment from several locations along Tecolote Creek in San Diego, CA were analyzed for persisting chlordane levels: Tecolote Creek (TC), Fiesta Cudahy Creek (FC), a reservoir (RS), a transformer (TR), the Cadman park lawn (CA), the YMCA (YM), and a baseball field lawn (BB).

This figure below reports the GPS locations of the analyzed sites.

A chlordane residue extraction was performed on each sample and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis determined its chlordane concentration. ELISAs combine the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of simple enzyme assays, by using antibodies or antigens coupled to an easily-assayed enzyme to provide useful measurements of antigen or antibody concentration.

The lowest concentrations were found in the YMCA (YM) and Cadman Park (CA) sediments. Fiesta Creek (FC) and the Reservoir (RS) sediments showed very high levels of the pesticide contamination. The Telecote Creek location shows a decrease from 560 ppb to less than 200 ppb.

Each sample was also tested for CaCO₃ contents, organic material contents, acidity levels and distribution of particle size. Each sample was pre-weighed; vacuum filtrated in hydrochloric acid (HCl) then dried. The dried samples were reweighed then the value was subtracted from the previous measurement to determine the sample’s CaCO₃ mass content.

This picture shows a USD environmental chemistry student weighing sediment sample for analysis in the laboratory with proper safety wear.

Each dried sample was placed in a pre-weighed crucible and covered with a lid. A Bunsen burner heated the crucible through a clay triangle until the sample glowed. The heated sample was cooled and reweighed to determine the mass of organic content. The picture below shows the heated crucible during the organics analysis.

The video at the end of this blog posting gives a laboratory view of the procedure used to determine the sediment organic material content.

pH paper was used to determine the relative acidity of each soil/sediment sample.

The data for the three experiments is presented in the figure below:

The highest percentages of calcium carbonate were found in the Baseball Field (BB) and Telecote Creek (TC). The lowest percentages of calcium carbonate were found in the Transformer (TR) and the YMCA (YM). A correlation is expected between samples with high levels of CaCO₃ and low pH. As the calcium carbonate increased the sample showed higher

acidity levels due to more weak carbonic acid content. This trend is shown in the Baseball Field (BB), Cadman (CA), and the Transformer (TR). These samples show direct relationships to acidity and carbonate content.

Particle Size Distribution was determined with molecular sieve filtering and Coulter laser particle scattering spectrometry. The smallest particles are in TC and BB (<250>µM diameter> CA has medium sized particles (~250 µM diameter). YMCA and RS have large particles (~500 µM diameter). The transformer has the largest particles (>500 µM diameter).

The figure below shows the distribution of particles in the samples.

E Chem Blog: The Movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Pjp9ZHkp0
(may need to copy and paste link)

Artic Contamination Response

In response to people who believe that global warming is not a concern I am presenting information from a recent seminar I attended at the University of San Diego.

Gier Wing Gabrielsen from the Norwegian Polar Institute gave a presentation titled

“Pollution in the Arctic: How physiology can be used in ecological and toxicological studies”

He reported that global air temp increases 0.4° per year but it is 6-8 times higher temp. Increase in the arctic. When arctic regions experienced an amplified heating effect causing a reduction of summer ice.
Research related to the impacts of a warming arctic predicts ice would be completely gone by 2070. More recent data shows very dramatic ice conditions heating faster than expected and a reduction in sea ice and glacier size.
High levels if dangerous pesticides (POPs) have been found in polar bears and aortic fox gulls. This includes HCB, DDT, HCH and chlordane and other lipid soluble materials.
New toxins have been detected that have negative effects on animals: Brominated compounds, PBDE, Siloksaner, PFC.
The pollutant PCBs is deposited into ice. The ice melts and bioaccumulation and biomagnifications of contaminants occur as they enter the food chain through seawater and krill. High PCB levels cause death in animals. PCB levels in arctic birds have increased from 2007 to 2008.
Climate change increases the load of contaminations in arctic marine ecosystems

Pollutants in the Arctic

In the seminar “Pollution in the Arctic: How Physiology can be Used in Ecological and Toxicological Studies”, Geir Gabrielsen from the Norwegian Polar Institute spoke about the impacts of climate change in the Arctic and the effects of heating in particular regions. He spoke about the effects of pollutants, especially POPs such as PCBs, DDT, and Chlordane, and bioaccumulation of PCBs in sea birds and animals because of the presence of the PCBs in seawater and krill. He also discussed a new pollutant, hydroxylated PBDEs, which are of high concern. PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenylethers, are flame retardant chemicals used in foams, plastics, and fabrics. The EPA describes the unintended consequences of using these chemicals, which have now been discovered to contribute to thyroid and liver toxicity when they persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms. ( http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pbde/ ). Another article ( http://www.mindfully.org/Heritage/2003/Polar-Bear-Poisoning5jul03.htm ) describes the effects of PCBs, pesticides, and the newly worrying PBDEs in arctic environments, where they have am especially strong impact on polar bears. Because polar bears are at the top of the food chain and have thick layers of body fat, these compounds can reach dangerous levels and accumulate in their bodies due to biomagnification. The toxins are also transferred to newborn polar bears through their mother’s milk, which occurs at a time when exposure to the chemicals could be especially harmful to their development.

EPA Releases New Emissions Ruling

The EPA released a final ruling in regards to major greenhouse gas emitters under the Clean Air Act. Under the rule starting in July 2011, new sources emitting at least 100,000 tons and existing plants increasing emissions by 75,000 tons per year will have to obtain permits. The rule will apply to sites accounting for roughly 70 percent of the country’s emissions and the EPA believes about 15,000 sources will be affected within the first two years of the new policy. The rule is intended to apply to sources such as coal-fired plants, solid waste landfills, and refineries. The ruling was met with mixed opinions. Some worry that the increasing limits on emissions will hurt the economy, while others defend the EPA and claim that the ruling will regulate large sources of emissions without placing further burden on small businesses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/science/earth/14permit.html?src=me&ref=science

Approval of Cape Wind

Cape Wind, a project that would lead to construction of the country’s first offshore wind farm covering 25 miles of Nantucket Sound, has been approved by the federal government after nine years. The project has been debated on various levels, including the impact the turbines would have on nature and aesthetics in the area, property values, the profits allocated to a private developer, and the emphasis being placed on switching to alternative sources of energy. Some compromises have been made to lessen the concerns of opponents, such as reducing the number of turbines from 170 to 130, and painting them a different color and leaving their lights on for fewer hours a day to make them less visible. Despite the concerns of the opponents, the project is claimed to be able to provide 75% of the power for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to an amount reduced by taking 170,000 cars off the road.
http://www.mindfully.org/Heritage/2003/Polar-Bear-Poisoning5jul03.htm

Regulation of Norwegian Industries to Prevent Climate Change

It is important to limit and regulate emissions from shipping, the petroleum business or other industries that emit soot directly in the Arctic. These emissions contribute to a temperature increases in arctic climate. Climate change in the Norwegian Arctic has major damaging consequences such as increased oceanic acidity and damaging ultra-violet rays.

Arctic warming can endanger the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and push creatures such as polar bears toward extinction. The Norwegian Polar Institute urges Norway to limit soot emissions from its oil and shipping industries to slow arctic warming. Climate change would shift Norway's fish stocks, forests and reindeer pastures northwards and even bring a need to re-design hydropower dams to accommodate increased rainfall.

The arctic ice and snow is blanketed by black soot. This dark soot layer absorbs solar energy and increases the rate ice thaws. Most arctic warming has been due to power plant, factory and car emissions. A recent study suggests that a proactive Norwegian response against soot emissions would help curb future Arctic pollution that supports



http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64A1WM20100511

The Artic, Contaminated

Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming, and air toxins.
A Desert Research Institute (DRI) study reports that North American and European coal burning has contaminated the Arctic.

Coal is mainly elemental carbon with small amounts of hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen. On complete combustion of coal, carbon dioxide is the main product formed. This is non-toxic, but contributes to the green house effect if produced in excess.

Small amounts of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur formed are responsible for acid rain.

On incomplete combustion of coal, carbon monoxide and unburnt carbon particles are also formed. This causes carbon monoxide poisoning, the formation of smog, and the blackening of buildings.


A Greenland ice core was analyzed by DRI for pollution levels from coal burning. The study of the Greenland ice core produced a record of continuously averaged monthly and annual averaged pollution levels dating from 1772-2003.



The research reported high levels of cadmium, thallium and lead. These metals are all toxic heavy metals. Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming, and air toxics.
A Desert Research Institute (DRI) study reports that North American and European coal burning has contaminated the Arctic.

Coal is mainly elemental carbon with small amounts of hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen. On complete combustion of coal, carbon dioxide is the main product formed. This is non-toxic, but contributes to the green house effect if produced in excess.

Small amounts of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur formed are responsible for acid rain.

On incomplete combustion of coal, carbon monoxide and unburnt carbon particles are also formed. This causes carbon monoxide poisoning, the formation of smog, and the blackening of buildings.


A Greenland ice core was analyzed by DRI for pollution levels from coal burning. The study of the Greenland ice core produced a record of continuously averaged monthly and annual averaged pollution levels dating from 1772-2003. The research reported high levels of cadmium, thallium and lead detected in the ice core. All toxic heavy metals.

Recently our USD lab class tested sediment samples for metal ion levels. We used atomic absorption spectrometry to detect lead levels. I would like to analyze a liquid sample of this ice core in our labs and report which heavy metals are detected. I would also like to use a GC-MS to detect organic material concentrations then compare all of my data to DRI's observations.


DRI reports a 10 fold pollution level increase observed between the 1700's and 1900's. A 2 to 5 % pollution level decrease has been reported in arctic pollution levels since last century.


It is worth mentioning that many comments argue against this study. Opponents argue that environmental lobbyists are interested in political power and not lowering pollution levels. Those who oppose the study deem the report "alarmist research" and argue that it is pointless because no one will listen. One opponent claims that global warming prevention advertisements portray industrial pollution that is truly just non toxic water vapor.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/08/25/greenland-ice-core-reveals-history-of-pollution-in-the-arctic-but-theres-a-twist-it-was-worse-100-years-ago/

Reducing Pollution of Chesapeake Bay

Today, the EPA announced guidance for federal facilities to reduce pollution of Chesapeake Bay. The guidance will help provide tools to reduce nitrate and phosphate pollution that is leaching through surrounding sediment. The EPA website says, "The categories of activity that are addressed in this guidance are agriculture, urban and suburban (including turf), forestry, riparian areas, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, and hydromodification." I think it is really great to see more measures being taken to protect waterways. More information can be found at http://www.epa.gov/nps/chesbay502/

General Report

General Audience Report

Donald Millar

The water quality in San Diego county streams is very important to the health of our community and the plants and animals that live within it. Water possesses properties such as temperature, dissolved salt content (salinity), dissolved oxygen content, and pH. These parameters dramatically alter the nature of a stream and subsequently the life that depends on it. Tecolote Canyon is an urban canyon in central San Diego that serves to drain rain and runoff water from public parks, private residences and even a golf course. The water that enters the canyon collects in Tecolote creek where it flows to the ocean via Mission Bay. As a community that is highly concerned with the health of our marine ecosystem, it is important to understand the dynamics of the local creeks and watersheds that empty into the Pacific.

The water of Tecolote Creek was found to be at a temperature of ~17.5 degrees Celsisus and featured little salt content: 1 part salt per trillion parts water. These values are normal for a stream in Southern California. However, the amount of dissolved oxygen recorded in the water samples was significantly lower than would have been expected for a water sample of the same temperature. Organic pollution in the water is produced by the improper disposal and use of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers. The presence of organic pollution can be tested by analyzing the demand for oxygen present in a sample due to the need for oxygen in the metabolic processes of these organic bacteria. Measurements of this demand for oxygen, called Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) found that the levels of organics were very low; a fact that was surprising due to the proximity to a golf course and

Tecolote Canyon near the sampling site

residential area. The BOD levels recorded in Tecolote Canyon were similar to those that would be found in a pristine wilderness waterway. This means that pollution due to overuse and improper disposal of fertilizers is not a significant problem in Tecolote Canyon.

Graph showing the expected dissolved oxygen (DO) and the recorded DO values.

Acid rain is an environmental problem caused by rainfall that has too low of a pH (an elevated concentration of H+ molecules). The acidity of the rain can cause a change in the pH levels of streams and lakes that dramatically alters the natural chemistry of these waterways. Soils and clays contain elements such as calcium, which is effective at neutralizing the acidic content of acid rain, helping to maintain normalcy in the ecosystem. Soils were collected from throughout Dan Diego county and each was tested for its ability to neutralize the effects of acid rain. Soils collected from Tecolote Canyon at the electrical power station and at the mouth of Tecolote creek were able to remove over 99% of H+ ions from the acid that was applied. The soil collected from Tecolote Creek was more effective at neutralizing acid than even pure limestone.

Soil Samples that were collected were tested for their metal content using an atomic analyzer machine. Each sample was tested for the presence of several metals, magnesium, lead, zinc, calcium, and copper. The most common metal found in the samples was calcium, a natural component of soils that did not come as a surprise to be present in such large amounts. The second most numerous metal observed was magnesium. The metal found in the least concentrations in San Diego soils was Zinc. Lead, which can pose a health risk, was found in very low concentrations; below the threshold of health risks.

The atomic analyzer instrument

The water samples that were collected from Tecolote Creek were analyzed using a Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopy instrument that is capable of determing if any toxic compounds were present in the water tested. Two compounds were discovered albeit in low concentrations: hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) and methoxyphenyloxime. Hexadecanoic acid is also known as palmitic acid and is commonly found in palm trees, seeing as though this canyon contains many palms it can be assumed that the contamination by hexadecanoic acid is due to natural leaching from palm trees. Methoxyphenyloxime is a compound known as an oxime, oximes are often used in the synthesis of nylon fabrics and in the production of artifical sweeteners.

Overall, the health of Tecolote Creek and the canyon itself is excellent. Little pollution due to organics or toxic compounds was found in the water. The soil has an excellent buffering ability against acid rain and has very little concentration of harmful metals such as lead. The dissolved oxygen content of the water tested in Tecolote Canyon was low, but this may have been due to the stagnant nature of the tested pool. Overall, the health of the canyons soil and water is exemplary and should be looked to as an example of stewardship by the local community.

Pollution in the Arctic

Gier Wing Gabrielsen from the Norwegian Polar Institute, gave at talk at USD entitled, "Pollution in the Arcthic: How Physiology Can Be Used in Ecological and Toxicological Studies". He talked about the studies being conducted to "understand the range of man-made contaminants in marine ecosystems of polar regions". There are both "old" and "new" pollutants that are affecting polar ecosystems. The "old" pollutants are those that have been around for decades, some of which have since been outlawed. These include HCHs, DDT and derivatives, Chlorodanes, and PCBs, which are lipid soluble and are mobilized as the lipid composition of animals changes throughout the year. The "new" pollutants include PBDEs, Siloksaners, PFCs, and PFOs. The levels of these pollutants in Arctic animals is of particular importance because if it can be proven that these compounds are harming Arctic ecosystems, then steps can be made to ban such compounds. 60% of pollutants are transported through the air to the arctic, 30% by the water and 10% through the ice. Studies have shown that contaminants bioaccumulate in marine food webs, but terrestrial contamination levels are much lower. Geir Wing Garbrielsen's information can be found at http://npweb.npolar.no/english/person/geir and more information on studies in the Arctic can be found at http://www.polaryear.no/seksjoner/english.

Chemical Fix to Oil Spill

One of the solutions to the oil spill crisis going on is the controversial use of toxic chemical dispersants to break up the oil and help it more readily evaporate. I personally had not heard of this in the news, but according to The New York Times, 160,000 gallons of these chemical concoctions have already been sprayed on the ocean surface and 6,000 gallons have been pumped down the the shaft where the leak is coming from. In terms of what actually composes the mixture they are using, that's a trade secret. What is known is that the chemicals are coming from a product line called Corexit. This actually got their approval rescinded by Britian due to the harmful affects of the chemicals on the marine life in rocky shores. Good to know that's being spilled into the ocean, right?

Some environmentalists see chemical dispersants as a necessary evil when an oil spill grows out of control like this one. The potentially harmful affects on ocean life cannot be predicted from the results in the rocky shore since the ocean is definitely a different environment, but it would be naive to assume this process is safe. Below is a link to the article and a satellite picture of the oil spill. It's shocking to think we can see this from space!


http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/20162

Cleaner Drinking Water

Almost one billion people across the developing world depend on untreated water sources for drinking and daily needs. It is estimated that each year about two million people die from water-borne diseases. A new research shows that tree seeds could provide a low-cost means of water purification that could drastically reduce water-borne diseases in water sources.

The Moringa oleifera is a vegetable tree native to Africa, Asia, and South America. The tree grows fast, resistant to drought, and contains an abundant amount of nutrition. It yields cooking and lighting oil, soil fertilizer, and edible seedpods, flowers and leaves. Also, the tree’s bark, roots and gum have many medical uses. This tree could help provide millions of people with cleaner drinking water.

According to a Canadian water purification agency, the Clearinghouse, the Moringa tree water treatment method can reduce bacteria in untreated water

by 90 to 99.99 %

“It’s (Moringa oleifera] seeds can be used to purify drinking water at virtually no cost.” ~ Michael Lea, a researcher at Clearinghouse, a Canadian organization

Moringa tree cultivation could provide jobs, nutritional benefits, and cleaner water. This solution could help to limit a large cause of death and disease in the world.

[Tree Cleans Water]

Wastewater Sludge into Electricity!

A University of Nevada, Reno, research group has been developing technology to turn sludge wastewater into electricity. The technology is going to be set up at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation facility next month. It has the potential to generate 600 kW of electricity per day.

http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/144535759.html

Our water treatment plant switches to ozone next month

The Alvarado water treatment plant, which supplies drinking water to USD and central San Diego, is currently in the process of switching its disinfection system from chlorine to ozone. The new system is currently being tested, and the switchover will occur in the next several weeks. (See link for details.) Of course, since ozone doesn't persist in the water, a small amount of chlorine will still be added to provide residual disinfection for the water as it flows through the system. The results should be less organics, less trihalomethanes, and better tasting water. However, according to our text, if bromine or bromide is present in the water supply, different carcinogens such as formaldehyde and bromate ions (instead of trihalomethanes) could be produced.

San Diego's Water Quality

The City of San Diego is required to report annually the water quality of its four water treatment systems. The most recent report available is from 2008. How many carcinogenic trihalomethanes were you drinking two years ago? (Answer: 58 ppb) Anything radioactive in your water? (Answer: usually not ...) Check out page 3 of the report for more data.

Water Emergency in Boston, MA

A water main broke in Boston this Saturday, dumping around 8 million gallons of water into the Charles river every hour. This break has caused nearly 2 million residence of the greater Boston area to be without clean drinking water. People have been told to boil water rapidly for at least one minute before consuming water or using it to cook, in order to kill any possible bacteria that is contaminating the water due to the leak. I was actually in Boston when this event occurred and was eating lunch in a restaurant with my family when a police officer came into the building and announced that the water was "unsafe to drink". Soon after the news had been spread, there was a run on bottled water in all of the stores. Most stores completely ran out of bottled water on Saturday night, although the orders for all of the stores' supplies of bottled water was greatly increased to accommodate the increased demand in the coming days. Here is a link to an article that has a good diagram of the area and a quick video of the damage:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978210983