Transcript

ACWA Stormwater Summit

Assessing and Reducing Emerging Toxic Contaminants in Urban Waters

May 9th, 2018Eugene, OR

Kevin Masterson | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

• Evaluating emerging toxics in urban waters and stormwater– What does monitoring data tell us?– What’s missing?

• Pollution Prevention Strategies for Emerging Toxic Contaminants– Current Use Pesticides– Phthalates– Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances– Flame Retardants– Taking an Integrated Approach to Toxics Reduction

Overview

What Are “Emerging Toxic Contaminants”?

• Chemicals we use in our everyday lives that are present in the environment and associated with sources such as municipal wastewater treatment plants, runoff from agricultural and urban land surfaces, and septic systems (https://toxics.usgs.gov/investigations/cec/index.php)

• Industrially produced, but much of the dispersal into the environment is through domestic sources

• Many are unregulated as pollutants, or subject to limited regulation

• Between 2008-13 surface waters throughout Oregon monitored for over 500 unique toxic chemicals

• 128 chemicals were detected• The Willamette Basin had the largest

variety of chemicals detected

DEQ Statewide Toxics Monitoring

Oregon DEQ Statewide Toxics Surface Water Monitoring:Percent of Sites with Detections by Chemical Group

From: Statewide Water Quality Toxics Assessment Report, April 2015, Oregon DEQ

* Asterisks indicate chemical groups analyzed at sites sampled during 2012-2013.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Agriculture

Forest

Mixed

Range

Urban

# of Unique Chemicals

Dom

inan

t Lan

d U

se T

ype

Metals

Industrial Chemicals

Current-Use Pesticides

Consumer Products Constituents

Combustion By-Products

Ammonia

Oregon Surface Water Toxics Monitoring:Number of Unique Chemicals Detected by Land Use

From: Statewide Water Quality Toxics Assessment Report, April 2015, Oregon DEQ

* From: Reconnaissance of Contaminants in Selected Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent and Stormwater Runoff Entering the Columbia River, Columbia River Basin, Washington and Oregon, 2008–10, Morace, et.al.

USGS Stormwater Monitoring• 2008-10 Columbia Basin Stormwater

Monitoring Study*– 12 of 13 flame retardants analyzed were

detected in stormwater– 38 of 93 pesticides analyzed were detected– Triclosan also detected (antibacterial soap

ingredient)

USGS Lower Columbia Monitoring• Passive Sampling of Emerging Contaminants*

– Devices deployed at 11 locations– Plasticizers (e.g., phthalates) found at all sites– Personal Care Products found at most sites– More chemicals & higher concentrations found at

locations with greater urbanization• Stream Sediment Monitoring of Contaminants**

– At least one endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) detected at 21 of 23 sites

– Several EDCs detected in sediment at most sites, including personal care products, fragrances & drugs

* From: Spatial and Temporal Trends in Occurrence of Emerging and Legacy Contaminants in the Lower Columbia River 2008–2010, Nilsen, et.al.

** From: Reconnaissance of Pharmaceuticals and Wastewater Indicators in Streambed Sediments of the Lower Columbia River Basin, Oregon and Washington, Nilsen, et.al., 2014

Oregon Municipal Pesticide Stormwater & UIC Monitoring Data

• 2012-15 Data from Municipalities Assessed by DEQ

– Most frequently detected current use pesticides: • Pentachlorophenol (wood preservative)• 2,4-D, dichloroprop, dalapon, 3,5-dichlorobenzoic

acid, diuron, dicamba (all herbicides)• Propiconozole (fungicide)

– Current use pesticides exceeding benchmarks -aquatic life or human health:

• Pentachlorphenol• Bifenthrin and Fipronil (insecticides)• 2,4-D

DEQ Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Urban Surface Water Data

• Multi-use herbicides (e.g., Diuron, 2,4-D) are the most frequently detected in urban waters• Also a significant number of detects of Carbaryl (insecticide) and Propiconozole (fungicide)

DEQ Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Urban Surface Water Data

• The pesticides exceeding benchmarks most frequently are insecticides, some of which are no longer registered for homeowner use

• Multiple herbicide detections over – or close to – benchmarks, but most herbicide detections are below 50% of a benchmark

4C : Very High Concern (POC)

3C : Mod-High Concern

(POC)

2C : Moderate Concern

(POC)

1C : Low Concern>30% (Level C)

4B : High Concern

(POC)

3B : Moderate Concern

- Watch List

2B : Moderate Concern

1B : Low Concern11 - 30%

(Level B)

4A: Mod-High Concern (POC)

3A: Moderate Concern

2A:Low Concern

1A : Low Concern0 - 10%

(Level A)

>100% (Level 4)*

> 50% (Level 3)*

20 - 50% (Level 2)

0 - 20% (Level 1)

Detection as % of Reference Concentration

Decision Matrix Based on Water Monitoring DataDetected concentration relative to a reference concentration,

Frequency of detection, and Trend Over Time

* Actions @ levels 3 & 4 if detected 2 out of 3 years of monitoring

Emerging Toxics in Water:Data Gaps

• No in-stream criteria or non-regulatory benchmarks for most “emerging” toxics, including Flame Retardants and PFAS

• Flame retardants (FRs)– Almost all monitoring focused on PBDEs (now “legacy”)

• Many other halogenated FRs in commerce• DEQ added two new FRs to lab analyses in 2017 and

recorded 12 detections in water• Phthalates

– Not generally monitored in stormwater– Geographically uneven data set

Emerging Toxics in Water:Data Gaps

• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)– OR and WA working on developing lab methods – no data– Groundwater detections in other states (NY, MN, MI, NC)

above EPA drinking water advisory levels

• Current Use Pesticides– Oregon has robust data set…. but only 130 out of 900+

registered active ingredients are included in lab analyses

Emerging Toxics: Sources and Pollution Prevention Options

• Current Use Pesticides• Phthalates• Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances

(PFAS)• Flame Retardants (FRs)

Pollution Prevention Hierarchy Capture and treatment of pollutants is often necessary, but source reduction preferred

Chemical Management Strategies

Materials Production Processes

Products

Wastes

Common Uses & Sources of Current Use Pesticides

Uses include: residential, rights-of-way, agriculture, forestry, golf courses, parks and more……

Non-Point Sources

• Wide area• Drift• Runoff• Leaching

Point Sources

• 1-2 locations• Disposal sites• Wells, sinkholes• Storm drains

Pesticide Movement in the EnvironmentThe Source is Often Hard to Trace

Multiple Routes of Entry

Current Use Pesticide Reduction Activities and Opportunities

• Integrated Pest Management– Biological controls (e.g., beneficial insects)– Mechanical controls (e.g., weed flame burner)– Physical controls (e.g., mulches covering soil)– Cultural practices (e.g., soil improvement, pruning)

• Pesticide Risk Reduction– Improved sprayer efficiency– Drift reduction methods– Lower toxicity chemistry– Using weather and pest data totime applications to reduce losses

Spray patternator ensures droplets make it to target crop

Outreach to industrial landownerson this fungicide concern

Phthalate Reduction Activities and Opportunities

• Third Party Certifications are increasingly limiting phthalate use– On various Restricted Substance Lists

e.g., Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive for electrical components (European Union)

• Alternatives to phthalates exist, but guidance is necessary to help manufacturers avoid regrettable substitutions

• 8 phthalates on list of 66 chemicals that must be reported by kids’ product manufacturers under Oregon Toxics Free Kids Act

Examples of Phthalate Reduction and Substitution Initiatives

• Health Care Without Harm (https://noharm.org/) – Reducing DEHP in PVC plastic used in hospital medical devices

• Healthy Building Network’s Pharos Project– Report on Phthalate-Free Plasticizers in PVC

• Personal Care Product Initiatives– E.g., Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Environmental Defense

Fund, State Organizations

• WA Ecology contracting to conduct Phthalate Alternatives Assessments– Focusing on 6 phthalates regulated by Clean Water Act, and

which are a concern to Puget Sound

Phthalate Reduction and Substitution

• What can individual consumers do?– When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless

steel containers and tableware– Avoid plastic products marked with recycle code #3– Look for fragrance-free personal care products, since

the ingredients “fragrance”, “perfume”, or “parfum” often mean phthalates are present.

Common Uses & Sources of Flame Retardants

Foam Insulation

Seating, including car seats Furniture foam and fabric

Electronics

Household dust – a major environmental source & can end up outdoors

Flame Retardant Reduction Activities & Opportunities

• Is chemical even necessary?• California changed it’s flammability

standard (TB 117-2013) so flame retardants are not required to comply….… and CA now requires labeling about presence of FRs in upholstered materials

• State procurement of office furniture can help drive market available alternatives exist at equal or better cost

Flame Retardant Reduction Activities & Opportunities

• What can individuals do?– When buying upholstered furniture, look for a TB117-

2013 label stating the item does not contain flame retardants

– Furniture and children’s products filled with polyester or wool instead of foam are unlikely to contain added flame retardants

– To reduce indoor dust levels, vacuum with a HEPA filter, wet mop, dust with a damp cloth

– Avoid using rebonded carpet padding made from recycled or scrap polyurethane foam

Common Uses & Sources of PFAS

Pathways to surface and groundwater are multiple, including air deposition

Source: Green Science Policy Institute

Michigan is cracking down on PFAS in wastewater plantsUpdated Mar 21; Posted Mar 21(From: www.mlive.com)

The True Cost of Scotchgard: 3M to Pay Minnesota $850 Million in Perfluorochemical SettlementBy Sarah WightmanApril 3, 2018(From: www.martenlaw.com)

11 houses near landfill test positive for PFASBy: 24 Hour News 8 web staff Posted: Mar 23, 2018 01:09 PM EDTUpdated: Mar 23, 2018 01:10 PM EDT(From: www.woodtv.com)

TOXINS TAINT AIRPORT GROUNDWATER,SOILNovember 30, 2017The Port of Portland recently detectedcontaminated soil and groundwater at Portland International Airport, traced to aspecial foam used in firefighter training for more than a half-century. So far, there's noevidence that the two chemical compounds, known as PFOS and PFOA, have spread very far.(From: https://portlandtribune.com)

PFAS in the News: Contamination Issues Growing

Plating surfactants a concern for MI WWTPs

PFAS Reduction Activities and Opportunities

• OR DEQ working with NW Green Chemistry to identify alternatives for PFAS in food packaging

• 2018 Washington Legislature banned PFAS in fire fighting foam and food packaging

• NY banning PFAS in food packaging state purchases

• CA Consumer Products program designated PFAS in carpeting as priority for regulation and substitution

PFAS Reduction Activities and Opportunities, con’t

• Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse & NY assessing fire-fighting foam (AFFF) alternatives

• Individuals can make purchasing decisions: – Cast iron, ceramic or glass cookware instead of non-

stick Teflon cookware– Consider carpeting without stain repellency– Investigate types of furniture and outdoor gear without

fluorinated chemistry– Note that products labeled “PFOA free” use similar

substitutes instead

Direct Technical Assistance and Recognition

Policies Incentivizing Transition to Safer Alternatives

Oregon State Government Roles in Advancing Safer Chemistry

• State Product Procurement Specifications & Guidelines• Establishing Priority Toxic Chemical Lists, and….• Sharing Monitoring Data to Inform Use Decisions• Toxic pollutant generation & permit fees

Environmental and Public Health Regulation

• Legislatively mandated chemical restrictions and disclosure requirements• Restrictions on Releases of Toxic Chemicals to Air, Water or Land

Collaborations with Other States, Industry and NGOs

• One-on-One Toxics Pollution Prevention for Businesses• Environmental Certification Programs (e.g., EcoBiz) • Safer Chemical Alternatives Assessment Trainings

• Interstate & Intergovernmental Forums (e.g., Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse)• Regional and National Multi-Stakeholder Groups (e.g., NW Green Chemistry)

DEQ Toxics Reduction Strategy• Strategy intended to advance many of the

safer chemistry tools available– Develop State Government Procurement policies

to drive market for safer chemical Ingredients– Collaborating with other states and organizations

to assess alternatives and pursue toxics pollution prevention

– Using environmental data and chemical priorities to focus education and outreach (e.g. Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships)

DEQ Toxics Focus List:Making Most Effective Use of Resources

- Interest in finding out more or providing input on strategy update?- Contact Kevin Masterson at (541) 633-2005

[email protected]

Questions or feedback?


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