Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in surface waters of the Great Lakes Network Parks: 2016–2017
Elliott S and VanderMeulen DD. 2018. Screening for contaminants of emerging concern in surface waters of the Great Lakes Network Parks: 2016–2017. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/GLKN/NRDS—2018/1189. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
During 2016 and 2017, surface water samples were collected from five national parks in the Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network. These samples were analyzed for 73 pesticides and 141 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (collectively, contaminants of emerging concern, or CECs). Sites sampled included remote inland lakes, streams, ditches, Lake Superior bays, a wetland, and a spring. Atrazine and DEET were consistently the most frequently detected chemicals at more remote parks with concentrations ranging from 13.6 nanograms per liter (ng/L) (Grand Portage National Monument) to 28.2 ng/L (Voyageurs National Park). In addition to DEET, several herbicide and herbicide degradates were detected in remote lakes at Voyageurs National Park. A couple of pharmaceuticals were detected in remote lakes at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (gabapentin, an anticonvulsant) and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (metformin, an antidiabetic). The most CECs detected at any park was 42 at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, with maximum concentrations ranging from 40.2 ng/L (valsartan, an antihypertensive) to 1,050 ng/L (metolachlor ESA, an herbicide degradate). Concentrations of detected CECs were below available screening values, indicating a low hazard to human health and aquatic organisms. Though more research is needed to fully understand the long-term consequences of CEC exposure in the environment. The data collected from this effort provide a baseline for occurrence and magnitude of CECs in Midwestern national parks and can be used to inform future management activities and monitoring efforts.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Elliott, Sarah; VanderMeulen, David
- Date of Issue
- 2018-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GLKN , GRPO , INDU , NRSS , PIRO , SLBE , VOYA
- Keywords
- Contaminant Monitor, Indiana, Lake Water Quality Monitor, Michigan, Minnesota, River Water Quality Monitor