It's Elemental: How Chemical Contaminants Affect Bay Life - The Chesapeake Bay Program

<body><p><em>Toxic pollution </em> – it's a term that resonates with people because it is often mentioned in the context of their health. While toxic pollution can affect human health, it can also impact the health of other animals and plants exposed to toxic materials. Similar to how some toxic materials can harm children and adults, animals and plants that are exposed to toxic materials can, over a period of time, develop neurological, reproductive and developmental abnormalities. These abnormalities can affect not only the exposed creatures, but they can impact the future of the species as a whole.</p> <p><strong>What is toxic pollution? </strong></p> <p>When contaminants reach an area at such high concentrations that they cause serious risk to the plants and animals living in it, they are considered to be toxic. Some toxic materials in the environment are natural; for example, poisons that some animals emit as a defense mechanism or substances found in some plants are toxic because they can hurt or kill other creatures that encounter them. However, many toxic materials get into the environment from human activities like electricity generation, waste incineration and commercial and manufacturing processes.</p> <p><strong>How do toxic substances get into the Bay? </strong></p> <p>Toxic substances can contaminate the air, soil, water, plants and animals; they often bind to sediments and get into local waterways through the natural movement of water. <a href="http://www.chesapeakebay.net/stormwater.htm" target="_top">Storm water</a> can also carry toxic substances that get onto roadways and sidewalks into the Bay; toxic substances may leak or be emitted from automobiles and get onto roads, where they can be washed down storm drains and into the Bay.</p> <p><strong>How do toxic substances affect the Bay and its rivers? </strong></p> <p>Toxic substances mainly have very little visible impact on non-living things, such as the water and the soil, in the Bay and its rivers. However, their impact can be seen among the animals and plants that live within those waters. Some toxic chemicals bioaccumulate in the Bay's fish and shellfish over time, which can cause significant health damage to the Bay's animals and plants and jeopardize the health of future generations of those species.</p> <p>In many areas of the Bay, important animals, such as white perch and striped bass, have enough pollutants in their tissue that Bay states recommend limiting the consumption of those fish. Each state's <a href="http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fishadvisory.htm" target="_top">fish consumption advisories</a> provide guidance on the safe handling and consumption of fish and shellfish caught in local waters.</p> <p><strong>Where are toxic substances found in the Bay? </strong></p> <p>Bay scientists have detected chemical contaminants throughout the Bay's waters, but the highest levels of those contaminants occur close to urban and industrial areas, including the Elizabeth River , Anacostia River and Baltimore Harbor.</p> <p><strong>What is the Bay Program doing about toxic pollution in the Bay? </strong></p> <p>The Bay Program works with partner states to monitor and assess ecological effects that result from toxic contaminants. In addition, Bay Program partners work to focus multiple regulatory and non-regulatory programs to reduce the amount of toxic materials that enter the Bay.</p> <p><strong>How do scientists learn about toxic pollution in the Bay? </strong></p> <p>One way that scientists learn about toxic contaminants in the Bay is to examine white perch, a resident fish in the Bay, for chemical concentrations. Find out more about what these studies show.</p> <p><strong>How are local organizations getting involved in reducing toxic pollution? </strong></p> <p>Local organizations have become involved in a pollution prevention and reduction program called Businesses for the Bay. Learn more about this voluntary program. </p> <div class="subscribebox" id="subscribebox"><strong>Also See:</strong> <ul> <li> <p><a href="http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=528" target="_top">Pharmaceuticals passing from humans to water </a> – A Bay Journal article that examines chemical contaminants from human medicine </p> </li> </ul> </body>