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/