Assessing and Reducing Emerging Toxic Contaminants in Urban Waters

Transcription

1 ACWA Stormwater Summit Assessing and Reducing Emerging Toxic Contaminants in Urban Waters May 9 th, 2018 Eugene, OR Kevin Masterson Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

2 Overview 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

3 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 ( Industrially produced, but much of the dispersal into the environment is through domestic sources Many are unregulated as pollutants, or subject to limited regulation

4 DEQ Statewide Toxics Monitoring Between 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

5 Oregon DEQ Statewide Toxics Surface Water Monitoring: Percent of Sites with Detections by Chemical Group * Asterisks indicate chemical groups analyzed at sites sampled during From: Statewide Water Quality Toxics Assessment Report, April 2015, Oregon DEQ

6 Oregon Surface Water Toxics Monitoring: Number of Unique Chemicals Detected by Land Use Metals Dominant Land Use Type Urban Range Mixed Industrial Chemicals Current-Use Pesticides Consumer Products Constituents Combustion By-Products Ammonia Forest Agriculture # of Unique Chemicals From: Statewide Water Quality Toxics Assessment Report, April 2015, Oregon DEQ

7 USGS Stormwater Monitoring 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) * From: Reconnaissance of Contaminants in Selected Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent and Stormwater Runoff Entering the Columbia River, Columbia River Basin, Washington and Oregon, , Morace, et.al.

8 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 , 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

9 Oregon Municipal Pesticide Stormwater & UIC Monitoring Data 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

10 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)

11 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

12 Decision Matrix Based on Water Monitoring Data Detected concentration relative to a reference concentration, Frequency of detection, and Trend Over Time >30% (Level C) Detection as % of Reference Concentration >100% (Level 4)* > 50% (Level 3)* 20-50% (Level 2) 4C : Very High Concern (POC) 3C : Mod-High Concern (POC) 2C : Moderate Concern (POC) 0-20% (Level 1) 1C : Low Concern 11-30% (Level B) 4B : High Concern (POC) 3B : Moderate Concern - Watch List 2B : Moderate Concern 1B : Low Concern 0-10% (Level A) 4A: Mod-High Concern (POC) 3A: Moderate Concern 2A: Low Concern 1A : Low Concern * levels 3 & 4 if detected 2 out of 3 years of monitoring

13 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

14 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

15 Emerging Toxics: Sources and Pollution Prevention Options Current Use Pesticides Phthalates Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) Flame Retardants (FRs)

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

17 Chemical Management Strategies Products Materials Production Processes Wastes

18 Common Uses & Sources of Current Use Pesticides Uses include: residential, rights-of-way, agriculture, forestry, golf courses, parks and more

19 Pesticide Movement in the Environment The Source is Often Hard to Trace Multiple Routes of Entry Non-Point Sources Wide area Drift Runoff Leaching Point Sources 1-2 locations Disposal sites Wells, sinkholes Storm drains

20 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 to time applications to reduce losses Spray patternator ensures droplets make it to target crop

21 Outreach to industrial landowners on this fungicide concern

22

23 Common Uses & Sources of Phthalates Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic building and electrical materials Caulks/adhesives Personal care products Plastic toys Vinyl flooring

24 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

25 Examples of Phthalate Reduction and Substitution Initiatives Health Care Without Harm ( 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

26 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.

27 Common Uses & Sources of Flame Retardants Seating, including car seats Furniture foam and fabric Electronics Household dust a major environmental source & can end up outdoors Foam Insulation

28 Flame Retardant Reduction Activities & Opportunities Is chemical even necessary? California changed it s flammability standard (TB ) 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

29 Flame Retardant Reduction Activities & Opportunities What can individuals do? When buying upholstered furniture, look for a TB 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

30 Source: Green Science Policy Institute Common Uses & Sources of PFAS Pathways to surface and groundwater are multiple, including air deposition

31 PFAS in the News: Contamination Issues Growing Michigan is cracking down on PFAS in wastewater plants Updated Mar 21; Posted Mar 21 (From: Plating surfactants a concern for MI WWTPs The True Cost of Scotchgard: 3M to Pay Minnesota $850 Million in Perfluorochemical Settlement By Sarah Wightman April 3, 2018 (From: 11 houses near landfill test positive for PFAS By: 24 Hour News 8 web staff Posted: Mar 23, :09 PM EDT Updated: Mar 23, :10 PM EDT (From: TOXINS TAINT AIRPORT GROUNDWATER, SOIL November 30, 2017 The Port of Portland recently detected contaminated soil and groundwater at Portland International Airport, traced to a special foam used in firefighter training for more than a half-century. So far, there's no evidence that the two chemical compounds, known as PFOS and PFOA, have spread very far. (From:

32 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

33 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 nonstick 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

34 Oregon State Government Roles in Advancing Safer Chemistry Policies Incentivizing Transition to Safer Alternatives Interstate & Intergovernmental Forums (e.g., Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse) Regional and National Multi- Stakeholder Groups (e.g., NW Green Chemistry) Collaborations with Other States, Industry and NGOs State Product Procurement Specifications & Guidelines Establishing Priority Toxic Chemical Lists, and. Sharing Monitoring Data to Inform Use Decisions Toxic pollutant generation & permit fees One-on-One Toxics Pollution Prevention for Businesses Environmental Certification Programs (e.g., EcoBiz) Safer Chemical Alternatives Assessment Trainings Environmental and Public Health Regulation Legislatively mandated chemical restrictions and disclosure requirements Restrictions on Releases of Toxic Chemicals to Air, Water or Land Direct Technical Assistance and Recognition

35 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)

36 DEQ Toxics Focus List: Making Most Effective Use of Resources

37

38

39

40

41

42

43 Questions or feedback? - Interest in finding out more or providing input on strategy update? - Contact Kevin Masterson at (541) masterson.kevin@deq.state.or.us