Unhealthy Water Pollution in Coastal Oceans

Gulf of Mexico Ocean Pollution Study Finds Human & Animal Feces

Jul 31, 2009

Hazardous U.S. coastal ocean pollution contains flame retardants. A study on the causes of water pollution in the Gulf of Mexico finds feces in coastal water.

Two University studies identify water pollutants in coastal area oceans which may cause health hazards in humans. One study identifies flame retardant materials in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico. Another University study discusses the find of microbial pollution, including human and animal feces, in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the microbial study is to determine the dominant ocean pollution sources, and possible health impacts.

“Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)...are used as flame retardants...in materials such as furnishing foam, rigid plastics and textiles...the U.S. has historically led the world production of these man-made chemicals...” according to an article, dated April 2009, titled, “Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Flame Retardants in the U.S. Marine Environment: A Review.” The article, published on the PubMed web site, is about a study by the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University, U.S.A. Authors of the study are Yogui GT, and Sericano JL.

Effects of Water Pollution From Manufactured Products

The PBDE article reviews studies of the distribution of flame retardants in the U.S. Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico coasts, and Alaska. Higher flame retardant contamination (PBDEs) was found “In urbanized regions.” An example given in the article is the coast of California. The article states, “...concentrations of PBDEs in U.S. Marine matrices are among the highest in the world.”

The Texas A&M University article states that brominated flame retardant pollution does not accumulate in “most” marine organisms, however, diphenyl ethers (DBEs) “...may be debrominated into more toxic congeners [a secondary pollutant].”

Coastal Pollution and Water Pollution Solutions

The U.S. does not have any regulation of PBDEs in “U.S. aquatic environments,” according to the Texas A&M University article. The study calls for a U.S. water quality criteria of PBDEs. The article states, “Some PBDE congeners [belonging to the same genus] fulfill the criteria to be recognized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs).” The study recommends coastal water pollution solutions, and to add PBDEs to the persistent organic pollutant list as “...established by the United Nations Stockholm convention... elevating... these chemicals to an appropriate level of awareness.”

Causes of Water Pollution by Microbial Pollution in Coastal Gulf of Mexico

“Water quality is frequently impacted by microbial pollution from human and animal feces,” according to an article titled, “Validation and Field Testing of Library-independent Microbial Source Tracking Methods in the Gulf of Mexico.” The article, dated June 21, 2009, is about a microbial pollution study, of coastal Gulf of Mexico water quality. The study was conducted by the University of South Florida, Department of Integrative Biology SCA110, Tampa, Florida, USA. Authors of the study article are:

The purpose of the microbial pollution coastal water study was to “identify dominant pollution sources,” by using a more detailed “microbial source tracking (MST)” method, as opposed to the less detailed “bacteria alone” method. The study hopes to standardize the MST method for independent lab assessment in the coastal Gulf of Mexico states. The test method is designed to better identify the different bacteria families, and those families associated with human and animal feces, and possible health impacts.

The results of the ongoing microbial pollution study was that human sewage “was the lowest for bacteroidales” as compared to other various bacterial families detected. The success of detection of feces related bacterial families “...showed sufficient accuracy and reliability to move forward [with MST tracking].” According to the article, samples will continue to be sent to collaborating laboratories, and completed “...field validation will occur in year 2.”

The Texas A&M University study of flame retardant pollution, in U.S. coastal waters, determined a risk of this pollutant converting in water to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The study states that flame retardant pollution in coastal waters is currently not recognized by U.S. government regulations as a POP. The study recommends controls on this type of pollution. The University of South Florida study, of Gulf of Mexico coastal waters, detected human and animal feces in the water. the study recommends more detailed testing methods such as microbial source tracking (MST). They recommend standardizing the MST testing method among collaborating laboratories.

The copyright of the article Unhealthy Water Pollution in Coastal Oceans in Pollution Control is owned by Bernard P. Nelson. Permission to republish Unhealthy Water Pollution in Coastal Oceans in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.