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Toxic Contamination in the Great Lakes Region What's New | General Resources | Databases | Networks | Programs and Projects Publications | Related Resources 
What's New CMS wants Lake Michigan discharge permit for Bay Harbor leachate Petoskey News-Review (11/20) CMS Land has applied for a Michigan state permit that would allow the discharge of contaminants from East Park in Resort Township into Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay after being treated and diluted at the site. EDITORIAL: IDEM chief’s toxic pile The Journal Gazette (11/19) There is a 35-foot-tall tower of steelmaking waste at ArcelorMittal in Burns Harbor near Indiana's Lake Michigan coast. Contrary to state law, parts of the mountain of waste have sat there as long as two decades. Steel plant outage resulted in sewage into St. Marys The Sudbury Star (11/19) Ontario's Ministry of the Environment is investigating the power outage at Essar Steel Algoma this week that resulted in untreated wastewater flowing into the St. Marys River. Where is the Spanish, and where is it going? The Mid-North Monitor (11/18) In 1972, Canada and the U.S. signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, committing to restore the "chemical, physical and biological integrity" of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. A 1987 amendment added a provision to develop Remedial Action Plans such as the one used on the Spanish River. EPA says no dioxin in tests of Bay, Saginaw, Midland water supplies The Bay City Times (11/18) Results from a second round of samples collected from the Midland, Saginaw and Bay City, Mich., water supplies show "no dioxin or furan contamination," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials say. Chicago canal to be poisoned to stop Asian carp Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (11/13) Early next month, more than 200 people are expected to participate in a two-day, $1.5 million project to poison nearly 6 miles of canal just southwest of Chicago. The idea is for biologists to temporarily kill the river so a new electric fish barrier can be briefly shut down for maintenance.
General Resources Human Health and the Great Lakes U.S. EPA Region 5 / Great Lakes Commission Featuring information on hot topics like drinking water and fish consumption, Human Health and the Great Lakes provides complete and up-to-date information about issues of human health in the Great Lakes region. Also contains a comprehensive glossary of Great Lakes terms and several links to related online resources. Based on data taken from the EPA's Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) studies. TEACH Great Lakes: Water Pollution Water pollution is defined as a change in the chemical, physical and biological health of a waterway due to a human activity: sewage disposal, toxic contamination through heavy metals and pesticides, overdevelopment of the water's edge, and more... Water Environment Federation WEF is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization that provides a range of materials describing today's water quality issues, including household hazardous waste, biosolids recycling, and watershed management. Water Pollution in Canada Environment Canada's Freshwater Web Focuses on toxic substances in the aquatic environment, effects of pollution, and control mechanisms.
Databases Contaminated Sediments and the Great Lakes University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute This fact sheet explains how contaminants build up in sediment, how they affect the food chain and why the Great Lakes are susceptible. Envirofacts U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) A relational database that integrates data from four major USEPA program systems: Permit Compliance System; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System; Toxic Release Inventory System; and Resource Conservation and Recovery Information System. Great Lakes Regional Air Toxic Emissions Inventory Great Lakes Commission The Great Lakes states are creating this regional database, which will establish a baseline using 1993 data on point and area source emissions of 49 toxic air pollutants identified as significant contributors to the contamination of the Great Lakes.
Networks EXtension TOXicology NETwork Univ. of California, Davis, Michigan State, Oregon State and Cornell Universities This cooperative network includes a wide range of resources related to toxicology.
Programs and Projects Atlas of America’s Polluted Waters Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water Includes state maps showing waters that do not meet state water quality standards. Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Program Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Designed to reduce nonpoint pollution in the Lake Superior Basin. FoodWatch Environmental Defence Canada FoodWatch provides meaningful information and effective tools for making informed decisions about food safety, and act on these decisions to achieve better human and environmental health. Fox River Watch A project of the Clean Water Action Council of northeastern Wisconsin, this site contains extensive information for the public about PCB contamination of the Fox River and Green Bay, the proposed cleanup, and health effects of exposure to PCBs. Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry The ATSDR research program is designed to investigate and characterize the association between the consumption of contaminated Great Lakes fish and short- and long-term harmful health effects. Great Lakes Mid-Atlantic Center for Hazardous Substance Research The mission of the Center is to foster and support integrated, interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts that advance and benefit human and environmental health and well-being. Investigators from the universities join forces to tackle issues related to the development and application of bioremediation technologies for contaminated soils and groundwater. Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Mass balance studies are a scientific method for evaluating the sources, transport and fate of contaminants entering a water system, and the effects of those contaminants on water quality. See also Mass Balance Public Outreach, Lake Michigan Federation. Research in Microcontaminants & Water Quality University of Wisconsin Sea Grant This subprogram was developed in response to the Great Lakes problems of chemical contamination and eutrophication.
Publications Airborne Contaminants and the Great Lakes University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Fact sheet explains where contaminants come from, how they are deposited and their effects. An Advocate's Field Guide to Protecting Lake Michigan Alliance for the Great Lakes After two years of research by organizations around Lake Michigan, this guidebook identifies basinwide threats; it is organized into three chapters: habitat restoration, toxic elimination and land and water conservation. Contaminated Sediments and the Great Lakes University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute This fact sheet explains how contaminants build up in sediment, how they affect the food chain and why the Great Lakes are susceptible. How Did the Poison Get into the Trout? National Wildlife Federation In the 1980s, biologists found the banned pesticide toxaphene in the lake's trout, sediment and water. Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Mass balance studies are a scientific method for evaluating the sources, transport and fate of contaminants entering a water system, and the effects of those contaminants on water quality. Mercury Source Sector Assessment for the Greater Milwaukee Area U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Developed to help set priorities for developing cooperative mercury education, technical assistance and collection programs. Niagara River Toxics Management Plan U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Since 1987, the Niagara River has been the focus of attention for four environmental agencies in the United States and Canada that are committed to reducing toxic chemical contamination. Wisconsin Mercury SourceBook U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Intended for use by anyone involved in drafting a reduction plan for mercury, including sewerage districts, community or trade associations, and government agencies.
Related Resources GLIN: Air Toxics in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Contaminated Sediments in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Environmental Research in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Great Lakes Fish Consumption Advisories GLIN: Hazardous Materials and Spills in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Human Health Effects of Pollution in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Superfund Sites in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Wet Weather Pollution in the Great Lakes Region
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