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ORSANCO

ORSANCO. Biological & Research Programs. Ongoing Research. Overview Status Future Direction. Emerging Contaminants. Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products (PPCPs) Hormones and Sterols Perfluorinated Compounds. Research Committee. ECs identified as a top research priority

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ORSANCO

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  1. ORSANCO Biological & Research Programs

  2. Ongoing Research Overview Status Future Direction

  3. Emerging Contaminants Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products (PPCPs) Hormones and Sterols Perfluorinated Compounds

  4. Research Committee • ECs identified as a top research priority • Eventually, the Commission will have to make regulatory decisions regarding ECs • Don’t want to be in the position of being asked what we are doing……and say “nothing”. • Be proactive

  5. Research Committee • Data = Informed Decisions • Conducting this research ourselves allows us to: • Control the data • Report the results • Control what is said about the results by publishing, informing the press and interacting with the public.

  6. A Few Key Points • To date, no evidence has been found of human health effects. • EPA – Global Water Research Coalition – Water Research Foundation • However, scientists are concerned over the lack of fetal exposure studies and studies involving possible effects of complex mixtures and long-term exposure.

  7. A Few Key Points • Effects on aquatic life are a major concern • Risks for aquatic organisms much greater than humans • Continuous exposure • Exposure to higher concentration in waste streams from many different sources • Possible low dose effects • Intersex – classic example • Other reproductive effects and anomalies • Neurobehavioral • Nest guarding • Homing during migration (salmon) Fish replace the canary

  8. Research Strategy • Do we find ECs in the Ohio River? • Are fish and other aquatic organisms showing effects possibly caused by exposure to ECs? • If YES… • Develop a strategy for testing fish health indicators and develop a routine monitoring strategy.

  9. Phase 1 *REVIEW* • 2005 • Document presence of ECs • Look for possible fish health effects

  10. Phase 1 *REVIEW* • POCIS and SPMD sampling units • Presence/absence only • Fish Health • 200 fish sampled Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler - Hydrophilic Contaminants Semi-Permeable Membrane Device - Lipophilic Contaminants

  11. Phase 1 - Results *REVIEW* • Hormones found • In effluent mixing zones • At upstream reference locations • Fish showed possible signs of health effects • No Intersex found!!

  12. Phase 2 - Ongoing • A more comprehensive look at the occurrence of Emerging Contaminants within the mainstem Ohio River • 24 Locations • Longitudinal spread • Range of potential for occurrence • POTW mixing zones • Tributaries • ‘Background’ areas • 121 Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Compounds • Hormones & Sterols • Nonylphenol (+) • Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) • Optical Brighteners

  13. Phase 2 - Sampling Locations

  14. Phase 2 - Objectives • Document occurrence of ECs within the mainstem Ohio River • Identify areas of the river with a greater risk potential (to aquatic organisms) • Number of contaminants present • Levels observed • Single chemical ‘WERF ranking’ (ongoing project) • Prioritizing Trace Organic Compounds

  15. Phase 2 – “Partners” • USEPA NERL – Cincinnati • APEOs – NPEOs - Optical Brighteners – PFCs • Researchers are national/international experts in the EC field • AXYS Analytical • Developed PPCP methods for EPA (1694; 1698) • Waters • Demonstrating new analytical capabilities

  16. Phase 2 - Funding • $84,000 Project Cost • $50,000 – River Users Program • Held in ‘reserve’ • $73,000 (+) available from EPA/NRSA Sampling • $6K per site x 25 sites = $150,000

  17. Phase 2 - Timeline • Sampling • September - October 2009 • Results Available • Oct. – Nov. 2009 • Data assessment • Dec. 2009 – Jan. 2010 • Findings reported to Technical Committee • Feb. 2010 • Draft report/pub out for review • March - April 2010

  18. Phase 2 - Sampling

  19. Phase 2 - Sampling

  20. Direction of Future Research Phase 3

  21. Phase 3- Fish Health • Research Committee – June 2009 • Priority: • The development of fish health indicators for detecting the presence of and effects from exposure to emerging contaminants.

  22. Phase 3 - Overview • Use Phase 2 results to identify a ‘gradient of (EC) condition’ • Areas with differing potential for showing biological response • Occurrence of ECs • Type • Concentration • Risk Potential – ongoing WERF Research Project • Test various candidate measures of Fish Healthalong the gradient identified

  23. Phase 3 – Research Proposed • $315,000 proposal submitted to USEPA through the Regional Methods development program. • Peer review prior to submittal • Very good reviews • Pulled in many different partners • USEPA • USGS • WVU • St. Cloud State • Proposal rejected on a submission technicality! • Currently searching for funding support.

  24. Questions ?

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