Chemical Contaminants

What kind of chemical contaminants can be found in the

Chesapeake Bay?
Two kinds of chemical contaminants can be found in the Chesapeake Bay: metals and organics.
The most common metal found in the watershed is mercury. A 2010 report from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the extent and severity of mercury contamination to be
widespread in the watershed. Contamination with metals like aluminum, chromium or iron, on the
other hand, is more often localized.
Common organic chemical contaminants include PCBs, PAHs and pesticides:

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, act as a flame retardant in electrical equipment and have also
been used in the production of inks, adhesives, sealants and caulk. While PCBs have not been
produced in the United States since a 1977 ban, the chemicals continue to enter the environment
through accidental leaks, improper disposal and legacy deposits. Data indicates the extent of
PCB contamination in the watershed is widespread.

PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, form when gas, coal and oil are burned. PAHs are
detected at varying concentrations across the watershed, with the highest reported in or near
Baltimore Harbor and the Anacostia and Elizabeth rivers.

Pesticides are applied to the land to prevent, destroy, repel or reduce pests. While agriculture
accounts for about 75 percent of all pesticide use, 85 percent of U.S. households store at least
one pesticide at home (and more than half of U.S. households store between one and five).

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are an emerging concern in the region. These
contaminants can appear in our landfills and our wastewater, and have been linked to behavior
changes and reproductive disruptions in fish and other species.

Where do chemical contaminants come from?

There are four general sources that push chemical contaminants into the Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries:

Air pollution that is created by factories, power plants, cars, trucks, gas-powered lawn tools and
other sources

Agricultural runoff

Stormwater runoff

Wastewater that is discharged from industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants into rivers
and streams

How do chemical contaminants harm Chesapeake Bay wildlife?

Some of the most common chemical contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed can persist in
the environment for a long time. These contaminants bind to sediment or build up in the tissues of fish
and other organisms, moving through the food web in a process called bioaccumulation. During
bioaccumulation:

Small, bottom-dwelling organisms take up contaminants through skin contact or while feeding

Larger fish eat contaminated organisms and accumulate toxins in their tissues

Birds, mammals and other wildlife eat contaminated fish

Because the consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish can cause health problems in humans,
cities and states issue fish consumption advisories in areas where chemical contaminants are a
concern. The District of Columbia, for instance, has issued advisories for all of its water bodies,
asking the public not to consume bottom-feeding fish like catfish, carp or eels.
Different chemical contaminants can affect the survival, growth and reproduction of fish and wildlife in
different ways. Exposure to PAHs, for instance, has been linked to the development of liver tumors in
brown bullhead catfish; exposure to pesticides has been linked to eggshell thinning in wild birds; and
several studies have shown that PCB concentrations in bald eagle eggs can contribute to their failure
to hatch.

What parts of the Chesapeake Bay are most affected by chemical

contaminants?
Almost three-quarters of the Chesapeake Bays tidal waters are considered impaired by chemical
contaminants. But the EPA has identified three regions of concern that show significant problems:

The Baltimore Harbor

The Anacostia River

The Elizabeth River

Current restoration goals

As part of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, Chesapeake Bay Program partners
committed to the goal of ensuring that the Bay and its rivers are free of effects of toxic contaminants
on living resources and human health. This goal includes two parts: to continually increase our
understanding of the impacts and mitigation options for toxic contaminants, and to continually improve
practices and controls that reduce and prevent the effects of toxic contaminants below levels that
harm aquatic systems and humans.

Take Action
For Chesapeake Bay restoration to be a success, we all must do our part. Our everyday actions can
have a big impact on the Bay. By making simple changes in our lives, each one of us can take part in
restoring the Bay and its rivers for future generations to enjoy.
To lower chemical contaminants in the Bay watershed, consider using non-toxic pesticides or
chemical-free cleaning and personal-care products. You can also follow safe and legal disposal
methods for paint, motor oil and other household chemicals, and keep pharmaceuticals out of our
waterways by returning unused medicine to a consumer drug return location or fouling it with coffee
grounds or cat litter before putting it in the trash.