Growing number of contaminants in marine ecosystems a concern
October 17, 2013
Chemicals from every day household products are increasingly being detected in the environment.
The presence of a growing number of contaminants, in particular pharmaceuticals in marine ecosystems, is of
international concern as many of these every day chemicals are designed to be biologically active and may have adverse
effects on marine organisms, University of Canterbury (UC) senior chemistry lecturer Dr Sally Gaw says.
The emerging contaminants are not routinely monitored in the environment but they pose potential threats to ecosystems
and human health, she says.
``These emerging contaminants are of interest either because we have more information about their adverse effects in the
environment or, in some cases, due to advances in analytical equipment we are now able to detect them in the
environment,’’ Dr Gaw says.
She will be giving a public lecture on campus next week (October 23) discussing emerging contaminants. Dr Gaw will
explain how pharmaceutical contaminants enter coastal waters, how showering and cleaning your teeth can contribute to
marine pollution and how anti-depressants have been found in fish brains.
`` Until recently, researchers investigating the impacts of these emerging contaminants have focussed on freshwater
environments and there has been limited assessment of these every day chemicals in marine environments.
``New Zealand's population is predominantly coastal, with three quarters of the population living within 10km of the
coast. The coastline is a national taonga and a significant source of income.
``I will be explaining the likely impacts of emerging contaminants in the marine environment and the potential impacts
on human health.
``Many of these contaminants are every day chemicals in widespread use in consumer products, personal care products and
pharmaceuticals. The presence of antibiotics and antimicrobial compounds in the environment is a public health issue due
to the potential for the development of antibiotic drug resistance in bacteria.
``Sewage discharges are a major source of emerging contaminants entering coastal waters. Current sewage treatment
processes were not designed to remove these types of contaminants.’’
Measures to reduce the impact of emerging contaminants in the marine environment will involve a combination of improved
treatment at wastewater plants and regulatory controls for high risk chemicals, Dr Gaw says.
For details about her lecture, see: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/event/8360082231
ENDS