The Effects of Wastewater on Fish, Bird, and Human Health By Kevin Curry SWES 474

What is stress? “Everybody knows what stress is and nobody knows what it is” (Selye, 1973). “Everybody knows what stress is and nobody knows what it is” (Selye, 1973). ONE DEFINITION: ONE DEFINITION: Basically, the environment that one lives in can affect their health Basically, the environment that one lives in can affect their health

Where can this stress affect fish? Polluted water Polluted water –Sewage Treatment Works (STW) –Runoff from irrigated farm land

What it can do….

The Study by The Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health: Alte Aare River Alte Aare River Mid-sized river Mid-sized river Swiss Midlands Swiss Midlands Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.) Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.) Receives water from a STW Receives water from a STW

Their findings… Group Location Temp(◦C) O2(mg/L) NH4-N(mg/L) NO2-N(mg/L) NO3-N(mg/L) Group Location Temp(◦C) O2(mg/L) NH4-N(mg/L) NO2-N(mg/L) NO3-N(mg/L) Passive Monitoring (cage experiments) UP m UP m DOWN 300 m DOWN 300 m Active Monitoring (wild fish) TW Lab 8.9 N/A N/A N/A N/A RW 100 m UP N/A N/A N/A WW 20 m UP N/A N/A N/A *TW = Tap water group *RW = River water group *WW = Waste water group

The study done by U.S. Geological Survey… Salton Sea Salton Sea –Considered one of the most polluted bodies of water in all of the United States. –Maintained by 50,000 acres of growing fields located in the Imperial Valley. –Agricultural waste water contains Nutrients Nutrients Nitrates Nitrates Selenium Selenium Pesticides Pesticides –DDE

The Salton Sea is well known for its episodic die-offs of birds such as grebes and pelicans. The Salton Sea is well known for its episodic die-offs of birds such as grebes and pelicans.

What else does this water contain? Receives water from the New and Alamo Rivers Receives water from the New and Alamo Rivers Water flows from Mexicali Mexico to the Salton Sea Water flows from Mexicali Mexico to the Salton Sea –Contains: Raw sewage from more than 75,000 people Raw sewage from more than 75,000 people Leachate from landfills Leachate from landfills Industrial and slaughterhouse wastes Industrial and slaughterhouse wastes Phosphate detergents Phosphate detergents

Their findings… One study concluded that all of the contaminants, which include DDE and selenium, were in fact accumulating in the tissues of the birds at the Salton Sea. One study concluded that all of the contaminants, which include DDE and selenium, were in fact accumulating in the tissues of the birds at the Salton Sea. –Both migratory and resident birds were affected. –These birds include all of the egrets, night herons, great blue herons, and black skimmers (Boyle 1995).

Unsafe Selenium concentrations were also found in irrigation drainages that supply water to the Salton Sea. Unsafe Selenium concentrations were also found in irrigation drainages that supply water to the Salton Sea. Selenium can deteriorate a bird's immune system and its resistance to general bird diseases. Selenium can deteriorate a bird's immune system and its resistance to general bird diseases.

Accumulating elements… Cause increasing stress in fish and birds Cause increasing stress in fish and birds Also affect reproduction efforts Also affect reproduction efforts Eggshell thinning is an increasing problem with all birds in the area. Eggshell thinning is an increasing problem with all birds in the area.

HOW DOES THIS EFFECT US? By polluting the waters of our rivers and lakes we are not only polluting the homes of fish and many other marine life, but we are in fact potentially polluting ourselves. By polluting the waters of our rivers and lakes we are not only polluting the homes of fish and many other marine life, but we are in fact potentially polluting ourselves. Many cultures rely on fish as their main source of food. Many cultures rely on fish as their main source of food. In people, selenium can cause growth and development problems for the young, and nerve, sexual, skin and stomach problems for adults. In people, selenium can cause growth and development problems for the young, and nerve, sexual, skin and stomach problems for adults.

HOW DOES THIS EFFECT US? Environmental protection groups caution pregnant woman and children not to consume any fish that are caught in the Salton Sea. Environmental protection groups caution pregnant woman and children not to consume any fish that are caught in the Salton Sea. This is why there are signs posted around the Salton Sea which warn that “Area Contains chemicals known…to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm” (Boyle, 1995). This is why there are signs posted around the Salton Sea which warn that “Area Contains chemicals known…to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm” (Boyle, 1995).

What can be done? Sewage waste water should be treated properly and should no longer contain harmful substances when it enters lake or river water. Sewage waste water should be treated properly and should no longer contain harmful substances when it enters lake or river water. This would help reduce the stressors on the Brown Trout in the Alte Aare River. This would help reduce the stressors on the Brown Trout in the Alte Aare River.