a lake erie twofer: tiny plastic particles and toxic algae threaten lake waters

A Lake Erie Twofer: Tiny Plastic Particles and Toxic Algae Threaten Lake Waters

June 23 2014

Thank you for joining us. We will begin in a moment.

Please check your speakers/phone connection. If you experience any problems, please let us know by typing in the chat box.

This webinar is brought to you by the Lake Erie Binational Forum, and hosted by the Ohio Environmental Council.

Lake Erie Binational Forum Introduction By Teresa Hollingsworth, Lake Erie Binational Forum Co-facilitator From The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (CHABs): Facts, Fiction and Fixes:By Dr. Sue Watson, Research Scientist, WHERD, Water Science and Technology, Environment Canada.

Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast and MonitoringBy Dr. Jeffery Reutter, Director Ohio Sea Grant College Program - F.T. Stone Laboratory, Center for Lake Erie Area

Research and the Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium

Challenges Water Treatment Plants Face To Ensure We Have Safe Drinking Water:By Andy McClure, Administrator, Collins Park Water Treatment, Toledo, OH

Great Lakes Plastic Pollution SurveyBy Dr. Sheri Mason, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at SUNY Fredonia

A Lake Erie Twofer: Tiny Plastic Particles and Toxic Algae Threaten Lake Waters

Presentations

The Lake Erie Binational Public Forum

Nearly Two Decades of Action

Who we are…The Forum is a group of interested stakeholders from Canada and the U.S., including farmers, business people, scientists, educators, anglers, boaters, environmentalists, governmental officials, public health workers and others.

What the Forum has Achieved…

• Playing a significant role in the LAMP process with real involvement and proactive initiatives

• Increasing stakeholder participation in the LaMP process

• Implementing, facilitating and/or participating in Forum sponsored LAMP related activities at the local level

The Lake Erie Binational Public Forum

To learn more visit www.lakeerieforum.org

Join the Forum Listserv to receive notices about events, news, science and announcements relevant to Lake Erie.

To Join Our ListservE-mail Lake Erie Forum

Co-Facilitator Adam Rissien:[email protected]

OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY


Lake Erie HAB Forecasts and Monitoring

Dr. Jeffrey M. ReutterDirector, Ohio Sea Grant College

Program


Jeffrey M. Reutter, Ph.D., Director•1895—F.T. Stone Laboratory •1970—Center for Lake Erie Area Research (CLEAR)

•1978—Ohio Sea Grant College Program•1992—Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium (GLAERC)

•Grad student at Stone Lab in 1971 and never left. Director since 1987.

8


• Sedimentation• Phosphorus and nutrient loading

• Harmful algal blooms• Western, Central, and Eastern Basin Differences• Different problems in different lakes (possibly more

difficult than Lake Erie)• Aquatic invasive species• Dead Zone—exacerbated by nutrients• Climate Change—Makes the others worse

Lake Erie’s Biggest Problems/Issues

OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORYOSU’s Island Campus


Image: Ohio Sea Grant

Southernmost


Shallowest and Warmest


Photo: Ohio Sea Grant

Discuss 3 Basins & Retention Time


80:10:10 Rule

•80% of water from upper lakes•10% direct precipitation•10% from Lake Erie tributaries

•Maumee •Largest tributary to Great Lakes

•Drains 4.5 million acres of ag land•3% of flow into Lake Erie


Photo: Ohio Sea Grant

Discuss 3 Basins & Retention Time


Superior Michigan Huron Erie Ontario0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Residential Cropland PastureForest Brush/Wetland

Major Land Uses in The Great Lakes


Because of Land Use, Lake Erie Gets:

•More sediment•More nutrients (fertilizers and sewage)•More pesticides• (The above 3 items are exacerbated by storms, which will be more frequent and severe due to climate change.)

•And Lake Erie is still biologically the most productive of the Great Lakes—And always will be!!!


Lake Erie: 2% of the water and 50% of the fish

Lake Superior:50% of the water and 2% of the fish

50:2 Rule(Not exact, but instructive)


Lake Erie: One of the Most Important Lakes in the World

•Dead lake image of 60s and 70s.•Poster child for pollution problems in this country.

•But, most heavily utilized of any of the Great Lakes.

•Shared by 5 states, a province, and 2 countries.

•Best example of ecosystem recovery in world.


June 22, 1969

Lake Erie wasn’t always the Walleye Capital of the World


Blue-green Algae Bloom circa 1971, Lake Erie

Photo: Forsythe and Reutter


What brought about the rebirth (dead lake to Walleye Capital)?

•Phosphorus reductions from point sources (29,000 metric tons to 11,000).


Major Sources of Phosphorus•Lawn fertilizer—going down•Sewage treatment plants and CSO’s•Non-point source runoff from urban•Non-point source runoff from agriculture

•1970s—2/3 poor sewage treatment•Today—2/3 agricultural runoff


•Normally limiting nutrient in freshwater systems

•P reduction is best strategy ecologically and economically

•Reducing both P and N would help

Why did we target phosphorus?


Impact of Ecosystem Recovery (rebirth)

•Ohio walleye harvest 112,000 in 1976 to over 5 million by mid-80s

•34 charter fishing businesses in 1975 to over 1200 by mid-80s and almost 800 today

•207 coastal businesses to over 425 today


• Reference Dose = amount that can be ingested orally by a person, above which a toxic effect may occur, on a milligram per kilogram body weight per day basis.

Toxicity of Algal Toxins Relative to Other Toxic Compounds found in Water

Dioxin (0.000001 mg/kg-d)

Microcystin LR (0.000003 mg/kg-d)Saxitoxin (0.000005 mg/kg-d)

PCBs (0.00002 mg/kg-d)Cylindrospermopsin (0.00003 mg/kg-d)Methylmercury (0.0001 mg/kg-d)Anatoxin-A (0.0005 mg/kg-d)

DDT (0.0005 mg/kg-d)Selenium (0.005 mg/kg-d)

Alachlor (0.01 mg/kg-d)Cyanide (0.02 mg/kg-d)Atrazine (0.04 mg/kg-d)Fluoride (0.06 mg/kg-d)Chlorine (0.1 mg/kg-d)Aluminum (1 mg/kg-d)Ethylene Glycol (2 mg/kg-d)

Botulinum toxin A (0.001 mg/kg-d)

Toxin Reference Doses


•1 ppb WHO drinking water limit•20 ppb WHO swimming limit•60 ppb highest level for Lake Erie till 2011•84 ppb highest level for Grand Lake St. Marys till 2010

•2000+ Grand Lake St. Marys 2010•1200 Lake Erie Maumee Bay area 2011

Microcystin Concentrations


Impacts of Increased Phosphorus Concentrations

•HABs—If P concentrations are high (regardless of the source, Ag, sewage, etc.) and water is warm, we will have a HAB (nitrogen concentration will likely determine which of the 7-10 species bloom)

•Nuisance Algae Blooms• Cladophora—Whole lake problem. An attached

form.• Winter algal blooms

•Dead Zone in Central Basin


11 years of satellite data provide bloom extent

Data from MERIS 2002-2011, MODIS 2012

high

medium

low


Are HABs only a Lake Erie and Ohio Problem?

•Serious problem in US and Canada•21 states and Canada in 2012•Global problem•Chaired Loadings and Concentrations Subcommittee for Ohio P Task Force

•Now US Co-Chair of the Objectives and Loadings Task Team of Annex 4 (nutrients) Subcommittee of GLWQA

•Weather can determine how we experience a bloom


Photos: Jeff Reutter

Microcystis, Stone Lab, 8/10/10


Photo: NOAA Satellite Image

October 9, 2011


Microcystis, Stone Lab, 9/20/13


Spring (Mar-June) discharge relationship for seasonal prediction. 2013 bloom was much higher than any of the models would predict (2012 was only slightly higher, note the log scale).

observed

modeled

Stumpf cyano-index for each year with Model result and predictions

for 2012 and 2013. 2013 was severely underestimated.


Current Forecast•Based on Heidelberg measurements of Maumee River discharge and P loading 1 March – 30 June

•Rick Stumpf’s model (ground truthed by Stone Lab)

•Tom Bridgeman’s Maumee Bay nutrient and HAB measurements and Justin Chaffin’s Western and western portion of Central Basin measurements


Possible Reasons for Underestimate

•Cool spring temperatures•High P load in July•High load of nitrogen preventing summer nitrogen limitation

•So many Microcystis cells on the lake bottom now from previous blooms that it is easier for a bloom to occur.


What was different in 2013? SRP (m.tons) in July. 2003, 2008, 2013 were high,

One possibility, 2003 and 2008 had cold June < 20 degC, not optimal for cyano growth. 2013 had optimal June temp of ~21 degC.

2013 June temp was also “normal”(No difference in July.)


2013 prediction for western Lake Erie:similar to 2003, <1/5 of 2011, 2X 2012

low medium high

Concentration

2013 may resemble 2003

2011 for comparison


9/14/13


October 12, 2013

R. Stumpf, NOAA National Center for Coastal Ocean Science


2013• Only blooms in 2011 and 2013 extended well into October. • Toxins appeared in treated drinking water in 2013.

• Carroll Treatment Plant shut down—bottled water • Toledo and Erie Co. say can’t guarantee safe drinking

water in future • No national or state guidelines on algal toxins—but may

be coming• Meris vs. Modis Satellite Limitations• Greater recognition of of their role by agriculture

community, but clearly not enough action.• When nutrients leave fields they are pollutants.


Target Loads to Solve Problem•Leading subcommittee of the Ohio Phosphorus Task Force to identify both spring and annual target loads of both total P and DRP (Reutter comment) to prevent or greatly reduce HABs

•Target is 40% reduction (Ohio Lake Erie Task Force, 3/14/13)


Expect Rapid Recovery in Lake Erie

•Due to rapid flush out rate•Lake Erie = 2.7 years•Western Basin = 20-50 days

•Other Great Lakes could be over 100 years


2014 Loading Data: thoughts on this summer and fall


Climate change is making these problems worse!

• Warm water increases oxygen depletion rates• More severe storms will resuspend more sediment

and increase erosion and nutrient loading• Critically important point—with no changes in Ag practices,

warmer weather and increased frequency of severe storms could increase negative impact of existing practices.

• Lake levels—uncertain/probably down• Warm water favors HABs


Nutrient Loading

•Majority of loading occurs during storm events

•80-90% of loading occurs 10-20% of time•2012 = dry spring and low load—a very good thing!!


High spring P loads Long water residence time


Increased Frequency of Rainstorms

Changes in frequencies of storms in the Midwest, by category of storm size for five decades, 1961-1970 through 2001-2010. Labeled changes are for the last decade. Comparisons are to frequencies in 1961-1990. Source: Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and Natural Resources Defense Council.


Stone Lab: Reducing Our Environmental Footprint

•Solar thermal on Dining Hall•Solar panels on new pavilion and Lab roof•Low-flow toilets•Low-flow shower heads and faucets•Compact fluorescent light bulbs or LEDs•Attic insulation •4-cycle outboard motors•Improved sewage treatment•Terraces to reduce runoff


Sustainable Energy Production


Solar Pavilion


Solar Thermal on Dining Hall


Stone Lab: Improve facilities and capabilities to address issues

•Stone Lab•Research Building•Water quality laboratory•Research Vessels and equipment•Research Coordinator•Education and Outreach Coordinator•Aquatic Visitors Center•REU program


Workshops•Algal identification•NOAA Science Literacy•Dealing with

Cyanobacteria, Algal Toxins and Taste and Odor Compounds

•Outdoor Photography•Lake Erie Sport Fishing•Fish-Sampling Techniques



Research Vessels (+Buckeye)


Sea Grant Research Projects• Beneficial reuse of dredged material in manufactured soil blending: Economic/logistical and performance

considerations PI: Elizabeth Dayton, Ohio State University • Impacts of climate change on public health in the Great Lakes due to harmful algae blooms PI: Jay Martin, Ohio State University • Should nitrogen be managed in Lake Erie? The potential role of nitrogen fixation by cyanobacteri PI: Darren Bade, Kent State University • Leveraging natural amenities for sustainable development in the Great Lakes region PI: Elena Irwin, The Ohio State University • Source tracking and toxigenicity of Planktothrix in Sandusky Bay

PI: George S. Bullerjahn, Bowling Green State University• Mapping drain tile and modeling agricultural contribution to nonpoint source pollution in the western Lake Erie

basinPI: Kevin Czajkowski, University of Toledo

• The role of nitrogen concentration in regulating cyanobacterial bloom toxicity in a eutrophic lakePI: Justin Chaffin, Ohio State University

• Delivery of sediment amendments using far-field ultrasoundPI: Linda K. Weavers, Ohio State University

• Relative contributions of hypoxia and natural gas drilling to methane emissions from Lake EriePI: Amy Townsend-Small, University of Cincinnati


Outreach Activities

• 22,000 visitors to Aquatic Visitors Center• Media Coverage

• 403 articles from 158 different publications/venues in 2013 about our programs

• Stone Lab Workshops• Twine Line Articles• Personal speaking engagements

• Over 50 last year


Stone Lab 1 or 2-Day Workshops• 10 July, NOAA HAB Press Conference, Science Cruise and Webinar• 23 July, USDA Rural Development State Directors from twelve

Midwest states• 24 July, Ohio Farm Bureau Group• 24 July, REU Presentations• 14 & 15 August, 2 groups of Michigan farmers• 18-19 August, Science Writers 2-day workshop• 20 & 26 August, Coastal County Commissioners, Mayors, and

Decision Makers Day on Lake Erie• 25 August, Ohio Charter Captains• 27 August, Indiana Farming Leaders• 5-7 September, Annual Open House (approx 1,200 visitors)


For more information:Dr. Jeff Reutter, Director

Ohio Sea Grant and Stone LabOhio State Univ.1314 Kinnear Rd.Col, OH [email protected]

Stone LaboratoryOhio State Univ.Box 119Put-in-Bay, OH 43456614-247-6500

mailto:[email protected]

Lake Erie Binational ForumChallenges Water Treatment Plants Face to

Ensure We Have Safe Drinking Water

Andrew McClure Collins Park Water Treatment Plant

City of ToledoJune 23, 2014

AgendaThe ProblemPlant and process overviewIndividual processes and algae

AlternativesChallenges

The Problem

As algal cells die or are oxidized, they lyse.

Toxins are released. Toxins are highly soluble in water.

Lysis (Greek λύσις, lýsis from lýein "to separate")

refers to the breaking down of a cell, often by viral, enzymic, or osmotic mechanisms that compromise its integrity. A fluid containing the contents of lysed cells is called a "lysate".

Many species of bacteria are subject to lysis by the enzyme lysozyme, found in animal saliva, egg white, and other secretions.[1] Phage lytic enzymes (lysins) produced during bacteriophage infection are responsible for the ability of these viruses to lyse bacterial cells.[2] Penicillin and related β-lactam antibiotics cause the death of bacteria through enzyme-mediated lysis that occurs after the drug causes the bacterium to form a defective cell wall.[3] If cell wall is completely lost, the bacterium is referred as a protoplast if penicillin was used on gram-positive bacteria, and spheroplast when used on gram-negative bacteria.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmosis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysozyme

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saliva

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_white

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92-lactam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_wall


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoplast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-positive_bacteria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheroplast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-negative_bacteria

RemovalFiltration- Filters designed to remove toxin are prohibitively expensive

Adsorption- Adsorptive media must be removed

Oxidize - Break down toxins into non-toxic forms

Once Lysed, the toxins must be removed or destroyed…

Ideally the algae cells are removed before they lyse.

Treatment similar to taste and odor control

Collins Park WTP History1941 – All treatment at WTP. Alum coagulation and

Chlorine oxidation/disinfection Chloramination, discontinued1956 – Lime Softening at the WTP1966 – Powdered Activated Carbon at the LSPS1979 - Chlorine Dioxide at WTPFerrous Coagulation at WTP, discontinued~1990 – Sodium Hypochlorite, seasonal, at Intake

Crib~1999 – KMnO4 , seasonal, at Intake Crib2009 – On-shore KMnO4, year round, applied at Crib

Process and AlgaeIntake Crib – Oxidation

Application of KMnO4Efficacy is limited. Oxidizes the toxins, but fed in excess will lyse cells, releasing more toxin.

Balancing act. KMnO4 application rate is increased only slightly during algae blooms.

Process and AlgaeLSPS – Adsorption

Apply Powdered Activated Carbon Adsorbs toxin, as well as many other organic

compounds.Carbon is easily removed by downstream

treatment process.Feeding excess carbon has no ill effect on the

treatment process; however, it is a very expensive chemical

Process and Algae

WTP – Coagulation Most effective on non-lysed cells. Alum dose has to be increased. Most cells settle to the bottom of

the settling basin. Dead cells will eventually lyse,

releasing toxin.

Process and AlgaeWTP – Sedimentation

During algae blooms the frequency of withdrawal of settled material must be increased.

Limits age of dead cells thereby reducing number of cells lysing while still in basin.

Additional cost associated with increased chemical feed and increased pumpage associated with more frequent settled material removal.

Process and AlgaeFiltration – Rapid Sand

Our filters are not designed for toxin removal.

Filter backwash frequency must be increased. Sedimentation process does not remove

algae cells that are floating.Algae that floats through the process makes

it to the filters, die and lyse.Results in additional pumping costs.

Process and AlgaeClearwell Storage

Chlorine oxidizes toxins, reducing them to non-toxic forms.

Increasing chlorine application rate must be done with care

The non-toxic organic compounds formed by oxidation of the toxins result in trihalomethane (THM) precursors

Could result in elevated THM levels

Other Treatment OptionsAlternative oxidizersDissolved Air FloatationGranular Activated CarbonMembrane Filtration

ChallengesMonitoring

Test is complicated, time-consuming and requires several hours to provide results

Pigments can be monitored, but correlations to Microcystin concentrations have not been identified

Chlorination to oxidize algal toxins may increase THM formation potential

What would help?Rapid accurate test method.Reduce phosphorous load in Lake Erie.

Keep new phosphorous out of the lake.

Great Lakes Plastic

PollutionSurveyDr. Sherri “Sam” Mason

SUNY FredoniaChemistry/Environmental Sciences

I just want to say one word to you.

Just one word. PLASTICS.- The Graduate, 1967

Modeled after natural polymers Created to replace the (over)use of natural

materials Moldable, Light-weight, Durable

Synthetic polymers

Source: PlasticsEurope,Plastics – The Facts 2013

1967:25 million

tons

INDIAN OCEAN

NORTH PACIFIC

SOUTH PACIFICSOUTH ATLANTIC

NORTH ATLANTIC

5 Subtropical Convergence Zones

Lake Huron sample with plastic film from a cigarette pack

Photos courtesy of Brendan Bannon

Lake Erie sample #14

Extrapolate

Particles per Square Kilometer(Plastic Abundance)

Insert Map of Expedition Route

2012 GREAT LAKES PLASTIC POLLUTION SURVEY

0.355― 0.999mm

1.000― 4.749mm > 4.75mm

0.355― 0.999mm

1.000― 4.749mm > 4.75mm

Fragment 247,106.5 123,906.2 11,219.8 21,385.9 28,127.8 3,502.4Film 3,943.5 1,332.2 4,006.1 95.1 743.4 688.3Foam 54,340.9 18,208.4 1,810.5 5.3 40.4 12.9Pellet 430,029.8 5,614.1 420.9 5.3 40.4 12.9Line 1,328.9 2,571.9 449.0 255.2 1,298.3 2,077.5

count/km2 736,749.6 151,632.9 17,906.3 21,745.4 31,010.4 6,281.3% of total 81% 17% 2% 37% 52% 11%

Abundance of plastic pieces (count/km2) by type and sizeGreat Lakes NASG

Sources

POSSIBLE SOURCE OF MICROPLASTIC SPHERES

Sources• Consumer Products

– Exfoliating Microbeads

− Photodegradation of larger plastic items

Photo courtesy of Brendan Bannon

0.355― 0.999mm

1.000― 4.749mm > 4.75mm

Fragment 3,356,920.6 1,586,137.1 127,199.3Pellet 920,457.4 78,815.0 4,999.6Fiber/Line 119,116.3 94,004.7 67,245.2Film 41,419.4 61,030.4 31,772.5Foam 72,501.5 136,444.3 18,028.9

count/km2 4,510,415.2 1,956,431.5 249,245.6% of total 67% 29% 4%

Abundance of plastic pieces (count/km2) by type and size

• Combined Data – 2012 & 2013

Why do we care?

Visual courtesy of Chelsea Rochman

Visual courtesy of Sierra Club – Delaware Chapter

Wastewater Treatment Plants Food Web Study Stream Sampling Sediment Analysis

• Current Projects

Thank You! Susan Gateley

Hannah Farley

Nick Williamson

Ghadah Aleid Morgan Smith Rachel Ricotta

Parker Fink

Photo courtesy of Brendan Bannon

Questions?

a lake erie twofer: tiny plastic particles and toxic algae threaten lake waters

Environment

ohio sea grant southernmost

lake erie photo

lake erie twofer

lake erie wasnt

stone laboratory photo

stone laboratory jeffrey

stone laboratory image

stone laboratory shallowest