Drugs climbing food chain?

Study to assess whether household contaminants travel from riverbed to fish, birds

By Lee van der Voo

The Portland Tribune, Dec 14, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (5 Reader comments)

As if it weren’t hard enough for fish trying to swim the dammed-up Columbia River, scientists now will probe whether antidepressants, perfume, bug spray and a whole host of other household chemicals also stand in their way.

After announcing earlier this year that personal care products, pharmaceuticals and other compounds are piling up in the bottom of local rivers and streams, federal scientists are poised to launch a one-of-a-kind study in the Lower Columbia River to examine whether they’re traveling up the food chain to fish and birds as well.

The primary researchers involved in the project are employed by the U.S. Geological Survey. They will use their combined expertise in soil and hydrodynamics, chemistry, small aquatic animals, fish and osprey to determine how the contaminants are moving from riverbeds into the bodies of fish and birds.

Some of the compounds are known to alter hormone levels in fish and interfere with their development and reproduction.

Past studies in the region have shown that “legacy” chemicals — or now-banned chemicals such as the pesticide DDT — do accumulate up the food chain, having an impact on the overall health of wildlife species and the health of the humans who consume them.

Now at issue is whether contaminants such as those found in the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries, generally called emerging contaminants, may have the same potential to pass from soil to small aquatic animals, fish and birds and cause harm.

In previous work led by Elena Nilsen, a research chemist at the U.S. Geological Survey, 49 compounds were found in the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries in 2006 and 2007. The tributaries assessed included the Willamette River, along with the Tualatin River, Columbia Slough, and Johnson, Kellogg, Tryon and Fanno creeks.

Compounds found in the rivers and creeks were caffeine, antibiotics, antacids, antidepressants, antihistamines, disinfectants, insect repellents, fungicide, fragrances, wood preservative, lotions, food additives, detergent, soap, flame retardant and manufacturing lubricants.

All are believed to have potentially harmful environmental impact. Many are on an Environmental Protection Agency watch list of compounds that may alter hormone function in both humans and wildlife.

They end up in local waterways in a variety of ways.

Some are byproducts of treated industrial and municipal wastewater. Others come from runoff from agricultural areas and urban streets. Some come from untreated sewage that overflows sewer systems and septic tanks and leaks into waterways.

Others result from runoff after biosolids — or treated sewage — are applied to land as fertilizer. Leaching from landfills, illegal dumping and aquaculture also plays a role.

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