The Great Lakes Basin is an important part of agriculture and trade for both the U.S. and Canada. Recent mapping efforts by the University of Illinois have revealed that this vast ecosystem may be under threat from chemical dumps and trash debris.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Great Lakes Basin, which spans over 750 miles, is the largest surface freshwater system on the planet, excepting the polar ice caps. This huge system provides water for a quarter of all Canadian agriculture and seven percent of water for American farming efforts. On top of that, 30 percent of Canada's total population, and 10 percent of Americans, live within the Great Lakes Region.
Using sediment and core samples, the University of Illinois discovered thousands of tons of polyhalogenated carbazoles in the Great Lakes. Here's what this means for those living in the area:
What are PHCZs?
As the university reported, the PHCZs found in the lakes could be the result of pharmaceutical, dye and organic semiconductor manufacture. That said, the exact source of these PHCZs is still to be determined. Some PHCZs may be caused by natural occurrences, though that may not be the cause for those found in upper layers of lake sediment.
Research lead An Li said, "However, we see some PHCZs in sediment laid down in more recent years, which is very likely from man-made sources. These are considered chemicals of emerging concern and should be monitored carefully."
The reason for concern is that PHCZs have been linked to cancer development. The university reported that, in a lab environment, PHCZs were shown to disrupt embryonic development in aquatic lifeforms. The effects on human populations still need to be investigated. In all, an astounding 3,000 tons of PHCZs is estimated to exist in Lake Superior, Huron and Michigan, some naturally forming, some caused by human activity.
Not the only problem
PHCZs aren't the only environmental problem facing the Great Lakes Basin. According to a report from the Rochester Institute of Technology, nearly 22 million pounds of plastic debris enters the Great Lakes from the U.S. and Canada every year. Huge patches of plastic debris can drift through the lake system from state to state and from country to country.
Lead researcher Matthew Hoffman said, "Most of the particles from Chicago and Milwaukee end up accumulating on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, while the particles from Detroit and Cleveland end up along the southern coast of the eastern basin of Lake Erie."
In June, the U.S. and Canada agreed to reduce levels of eight dangerous chemicals in the Great Lakes, reported Wisconsin Public Radio. This is a good step forward, but it's clear that there's still more work to be done to reduce the amount of chemical pollution and debris that enters this valuable natural resource.
