The Elizabeth River: Pollution's Dark History

The Elizabeth River is a 6-mile-long tidal estuary in Virginia, USA. It is a significant military and commercial port facility for the Hampton Roads Area, with residents, businesses, and local economies dependent on its continued vitality. However, in 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified the Elizabeth River as one of the most highly polluted bodies of water in the Bay watershed, and it remains on the impaired waters list today. The river's pollution is mainly attributed to military and industrial activities, particularly wood treatment plants that used creosote, resulting in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. The Atlantic Wood Industries Superfund Site, a former wood-treating facility, is a significant source of sediment contamination in the river. The Elizabeth River Project, initiated by concerned citizens, is leading the restoration efforts, with partnerships and community engagement playing a crucial role in reversing the river's pollution.

Industrial and military activities

The Elizabeth River is a 6-mile-long (10 km) tidal estuary in southeastern Virginia, surrounded by the towns of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The river has played important roles in US history and has been the location of various military and industrial activities. These activities have been the source of chemical contamination in this aquatic system.

The Elizabeth River estuary and its tributaries provide significant military and commercial port facilities for Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake. The river and its branches provide for both commerce and recreational activities. The Intracoastal Waterway connects to the greater Hampton Roads area through the Elizabeth River. The river is also home to the oldest shipyard in the United States, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which is still in use today. The world's largest coal export facility is also located nearby, as are refineries, loading docks, container repair facilities, and working barges. All of this industrial activity has contributed to the pollution of the river.

Important industries, until the 1990s, included wood treatment plants that used creosote, an oil-derived product that is rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These plants left a legacy of PAH pollution in the river, and in particular, the Atlantic Wood Industries site, which became a Superfund site in 1990 due to creosote pollution. During World War II, the US Navy leased part of the property and disposed of waste on-site, further contaminating the river with pollutants known to be harmful to both human and environmental health.

The Elizabeth River has also been impacted by sediment contamination, with studies showing the presence of heavy metals, PAHs, and metals from sandblast grit. These contaminants have harmed the environment and the aquatic life that calls the river home, including herring, alewife, shad, perch, bass, and mummichog.

The river's pollution has not gone unnoticed, and efforts to restore it are underway. The Elizabeth River Project, for example, has made significant progress in reversing years of pollution and restoring the river's health. Businesses and schools have also received Riverstar certification, recognizing their contributions to the cleanup efforts.

Creosote and other chemical contaminants

The Elizabeth River in Virginia has been the site of various military and industrial activities over the years, which have been the source of chemical contamination in this aquatic system. One notable source of pollution is the Atlantic Wood Industries Superfund Site, which consists of approximately 50 acres of land on the industrialized waterfront in Portsmouth, Virginia, and over 30 acres of contaminated sediments in the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. From 1926 to 1992, a wood-treating facility at this site released creosote and pentachlorophenol from treatment operations, storage of treated wood, and waste disposal. Creosote is an oil-derived product rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been detected in the river sediment. PAHs are toxic to aquatic life and can have harmful effects on human health.

In addition to creosote pollution, other chemical contaminants have been identified in the Elizabeth River. For example, during World War II, the U.S. Navy leased part of the Atlantic Wood Industries site and disposed of waste on-site, releasing heavy metals contained in acetylene sludge and PAHs and metals from sandblast grit. These contaminants have impacted the wetland habitats that support a variety of aquatic life, including herring, alewife, shad, perch, bass, and mummichog.

The Elizabeth River system has also been affected by other industrial activities in the surrounding area. The river is located near the world's largest coal export facility, refineries, loading docks, container repair facilities, and working barges. These activities have contributed to the overall pollution of the river, making it one of the most highly polluted bodies of water in the Bay watershed, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1983.

The contamination of the Elizabeth River has had ecological impacts, including on the fish species Fundulus heteroclitus (Atlantic killifish or mummichog). Studies have examined the biological responses of these fish to the presence of PAHs and other pollutants, with some populations showing resistance or evolutionary adaptations to the toxic environment. However, the river's pollution has also led to cancer in some fish, as reported by the Elizabeth River Project in 2003.

Efforts to remediate and restore the Elizabeth River have been ongoing. The Atlantic Wood Industries site became a Superfund site in 1990, and by 2020, it was reported that the site was on its way to becoming a wetland habitat, with at least 18 species living there. Additionally, the Elizabeth River Project, formed in 1993, has worked to address the river's pollution through education and restoration initiatives, partnering with businesses and the community to improve the river's health.

Sediment contamination

The Elizabeth River, a 6-mile-long tidal estuary in Virginia, has been the site of various military and industrial activities over the years, which have resulted in its chemical contamination. One of the major sources of pollution in the river is sediment contamination, caused by industrial processes and waste disposal practices.

The river's Southern Branch, in particular, has been affected by contaminated sediments. From 1926 to 1992, the Atlantic Wood Industries site released creosote and pentachlorophenol from its wood-treating operations, storage, and waste disposal activities. This resulted in the contamination of the river sediments with harmful substances, including heavy metals, acetylene sludge, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are oil-derived products that have been linked to cancer in fish and other ecological impacts.

Studies have been conducted to examine the distribution of PAHs in the river and their effects on the resident fauna. One such study focused on the Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), which is an ecologically important species in the river. The results showed that the killifish populations had developed resistance to certain pollutants, indicating the evolutionary significance of pollution in the river.

In addition to the Southern Branch, the Western, Eastern, and Lafayette River branches of the Elizabeth River system also flow through highly industrialised areas, contributing to the overall sediment contamination in the river. The river's proximity to major cities and its importance as a commercial and military port facility have further exacerbated the pollution problem.

Efforts to address the sediment contamination in the Elizabeth River have been ongoing. The Commonwealth of Virginia entered into an agreement in 1995 to address the issues, and the Elizabeth River Project has been working on restoration initiatives. The Atlantic Wood Industries site has been designated a Superfund site, and remediation efforts are underway to clean up and restore the contaminated areas.

Cancer-causing toxins in fish

The Elizabeth River, a 6-mile-long tidal estuary in Virginia, has been the location of various military and industrial activities over the years, which have resulted in its chemical contamination. One of the major sources of pollution in the river has been the wood treatment plants that used creosote, an oil-derived product rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

The Atlantic Wood Industries Superfund Site, located on the industrialized waterfront in Portsmouth, Virginia, is a designated Superfund site due to the release of creosote and pentachlorophenol from its wood-treating facility from 1926 to 1992. The pollutants released by these industrial processes are harmful to both human and environmental health.

The Elizabeth River has been the subject of numerous studies examining the biological responses to pollution, particularly the effects of PAHs on the resident fauna. One of the most well-studied species is the Atlantic killifish or mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), which has shown remarkable resistance to PAH-induced cancer. Hargis et al. (1989) reported a 2% incidence of exterior neoplasms, mainly in the mouth area, in a study of 398 fish necropsied. Vogelbein et al. (1990) found that 93% of 60 killifish collected from the Atlantic Wood Industries site exhibited visible liver lesions, and 35% had liver cancer.

The presence of cancer-causing chemicals in fish is not unique to the Elizabeth River. For example, in the James River, very large blue catfish are considered unsafe to eat due to industrial chemicals called Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). Similarly, in the Ogeechee River in Georgia, fish are being tested for high levels of Perfluoroalkyl, or PFAS, a cancer-causing toxin used by manufacturers to make products water and oil-resistant.

The discovery of cancer-causing toxins in fish has led to concerns about the potential impact on human health, especially in areas where fish consumption is common. In response, some states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Massachusetts, have set PFAS limits related to fish consumption and posted warning signs to notify anglers. Additionally, Virginia's Department of Health has issued fish consumption advisories for the James River due to the presence of PCBs.

Contaminated sediment and other pollutants

The Elizabeth River is a 6-mile-long tidal estuary in southeastern Virginia, surrounded by the towns of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The river has been a significant military and commercial port facility for the Hampton Roads Area, playing an important role in US history. However, these military and industrial activities have been the primary source of chemical contamination in the Elizabeth River system.

The river was identified as highly polluted as early as 1983 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 1993, the Chesapeake Bay Program further confirmed this by identifying the Elizabeth River system as a "Region of Concern". The river's pollution is mainly attributed to contaminated sediments and other toxins.

One major source of contamination was the wood treatment plants that operated until the 1990s, using creosote, an oil-derived product rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These plants, particularly the Atlantic Wood Industries Superfund Site, left a harmful legacy of PAH pollution in the river. From 1926 to 1992, this site released creosote and pentachlorophenol from treatment operations, waste disposal, and storage of treated wood. The US Navy also leased part of the property during World War II, contributing to the disposal of waste on-site. The pollutants released by these industrial processes are harmful to both human and environmental health, impacting the wetland habitats and aquatic life.

The Elizabeth River Project, formed in 1993, has been instrumental in addressing the river's pollution. Their efforts have focused on the contaminated sediment, which is often overlooked as a source of pollution. The project has engaged businesses, schools, and homeowners in the cleanup process, with 84 businesses and 126 schools receiving the Riverstar certification. Studies have also examined the biological responses of fish populations to pollution, with some developing resistance to certain contaminants.

The river's restoration is an ongoing process, and it continues to be a concern for the communities that depend on it. With collective efforts and small behavioural changes, there is hope for the Elizabeth River's revival and a more sustainable future for the surrounding ecosystems and communities.

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