Helena Joyce
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has been dubbed the most polluted lake in America. The lake's pollution is a result of a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping, with the Solvay Process Company, a chemical manufacturer, dumping waste directly into the lake as early as 1884. The site was so polluted that swimming was banned in 1940, and fishing was banned in 1970 due to mercury contamination. Despite cleanup efforts, the lake remains one of the most polluted in the world, and the Onondaga Nation continues to fight for the restoration of their sacred lake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Syracuse, Central New York |
| Size | 4.5 miles long, 1 mile wide, average depth of 36 feet, with two deep basins |
| History | Sacred to the Onondaga Nation, who have held it sacred for over a thousand years. It was taken from them after the American Revolutionary War and became a dumping ground for industrial waste. |
| Pollution Sources | Municipal sewage, industrial waste, chemical waste, mercury contamination, ammonia, phosphates |
| Environmental Impact | Excessive algae growth, low oxygen levels, fish and plant death, foul odor, toxic waste |
| Cleanup Efforts | Ongoing cleanup efforts since the 1980s, including a 15-year multi-stage program completed in 2017, recent upgrades at Metro, and the building of an underground barrier wall by Honeywell |
| Current Status | Swimming and fishing are now allowed in certain areas, but pollution and contamination remain a concern. |
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What You'll Learn
- Pollution sources: municipal sewage, industrial waste, and chemical byproducts
- Environmental impact: fish kills, algal blooms, and oxygen depletion
- Human health risks: mercury contamination, elevated arsenic levels, and cardiovascular issues
- Cleanup efforts: sewage facility upgrades, legal action, and long-term monitoring
- Cultural significance: sacred site to the Onondaga Nation and
Pollution sources: municipal sewage, industrial waste, and chemical byproducts
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has been labelled "the most polluted lake in America". The lake, which is sacred to the Onondaga Nation, has been subject to pollution from municipal sewage, industrial waste, and chemical byproducts.
Municipal Sewage
For many years, Syracuse dumped untreated human waste into the lake. The high levels of ammonia and phosphates from the sewage wastewater caused excessive algae growth in the lake. When the algae die, they are decomposed by bacteria, which consume large amounts of oxygen. This leads to eutrophic and low-oxygen conditions, choking out fish and plants, especially in the deeper areas of the lake. Eventually, anoxic conditions set in, and anaerobic decomposition releases harmful and foul-smelling gases like hydrogen sulfide.
Industrial Waste
The industrial facilities built along the west side of the lake have contributed significantly to the pollution of Onondaga Lake. The Solvay Process Company, which produced soda ash, dumped its waste material directly into the lake from 1890 to 1986. Approximately 6 million pounds of salty wastes made up of chloride, sodium, and calcium were discharged into the lake.
Chemical Byproducts
The Allied Chemical Corporation, another of Honeywell's predecessor companies, contributed greatly to the chemical pollution of Onondaga Lake. The surface water was found to be contaminated with mercury, while the sediments contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, creosotes, heavy metals (including lead, cobalt, and mercury), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated benzenes, and BTEX compounds (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene). 165,000 lbs of mercury were discharged into the lake by Allied Chemical, leading to dangerously high levels of mercury in fish.
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Environmental impact: fish kills, algal blooms, and oxygen depletion
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has been described as "the most polluted lake in America", owing to the municipal waste and industrial dumping that has occurred over the years. The lake's pollution is a long and painful story that mirrors many other tales of dispossession and contamination in the United States.
The environmental impact of the pollution in Onondaga Lake has been significant, resulting in fish kills, algal blooms, and oxygen depletion. The lake's severe degradation can be attributed to both domestic and industrial waste, with unsafe pollution levels recorded as early as 1901.
One of the primary sources of pollution has been municipal sewage. Syracuse has dumped human waste into the lake with little to no treatment for years, resulting in high levels of ammonia and phosphates. These nutrients have fueled excessive algae growth, known as algal blooms, which have detrimental effects on the lake's ecosystem.
The decomposition of these excessive algae blooms by bacteria consumes large quantities of oxygen, leading to eutrophic and low-oxygen conditions. This oxygen depletion, or hypoxia, has severe consequences for aquatic life, particularly in the deeper areas of the lake. Fish and other organisms are essentially choked out, unable to survive in the oxygen-deprived environment.
The oxygen depletion also sets the stage for anaerobic decomposition, which further exacerbates the problem. In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic bacteria break down organic matter, releasing harmful compounds and contributing to the foul odor associated with the lake.
The pollution has also directly contributed to fish kills. High levels of contaminants, such as mercury, methyl mercury, and other chemicals, have been found in fish from the lake, surpassing federal and state standards. These contaminants accumulate in the food chain, with larger and older fish exhibiting higher levels of contamination. As a result, fishing advisories and bans have been implemented due to the potential health risks associated with consuming fish from the lake.
The restoration of Onondaga Lake is an ongoing process, and recent upgrades at Syracuse's main sewage facility have helped curb the inflow of algae-promoting nutrients. However, the lake's history of pollution serves as a stark reminder of the environmental consequences of human activities and the importance of proactive remediation and conservation efforts.
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Human health risks: mercury contamination, elevated arsenic levels, and cardiovascular issues
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has long been considered one of the most polluted lakes in the United States, if not the world. The lake's pollution stems from a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping, with high levels of mercury contamination, arsenic, and other harmful chemicals posing significant risks to human health.
Mercury Contamination
Mercury contamination has been a significant issue for Onondaga Lake, with high levels of this toxic substance persisting in the lake's waters. Between 1946 and 1970, the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation discharged approximately 165,000 pounds (75,000 kg) of mercury into the lake. This resulted in the lake and its surrounding ecosystem, including fish, becoming heavily contaminated. Even after the company's closure in 1986, mercury continued to pose a problem, with unsafe levels found in fish populations. As a result, fishing was banned in the lake in 1970, and advisories against consuming certain fish species from the lake remained in place even into the 2000s.
Elevated Arsenic Levels
Arsenic contamination is another critical concern for Onondaga Lake. A scientific article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Open Network Journal in June 2023 explored the association between arsenic levels and cardiovascular disease in children living near the lake. This study highlights the potential health risks associated with elevated arsenic levels in the area, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Cardiovascular Issues
The presence of harmful chemicals and pollutants in Onondaga Lake has been linked to potential cardiovascular issues for those exposed. The previously mentioned study on arsenic levels and cardiovascular disease suggests a correlation between the lake's pollution and heart-related health problems. Additionally, the degradation of the lake's ecosystem, including the decline of fish populations due to oxygen depletion, further underscores the impact of pollution on the overall health of the surrounding community.
The human health risks associated with Onondaga Lake's pollution are far-reaching and complex. The presence of toxic substances like mercury and arsenic, as well as other chemicals, pose long-term dangers to those living in the area. While efforts have been made to remediate the lake's pollution, the legacy of contamination continues to affect the community, underscoring the importance of ongoing environmental protection and restoration initiatives.
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Cleanup efforts: sewage facility upgrades, legal action, and long-term monitoring
Onondaga Lake has long been subjected to severe pollution, with the lake referred to as the most polluted lake in the country. The lake is sacred to the Onondaga Nation, and the nation is currently involved in an ongoing land rights action seeking the return of its ancestral homelands to promote environmental protection.
Cleanup Efforts: Sewage Facility Upgrades
One of the major sources of pollution in Onondaga Lake has been municipal sewage. Syracuse dumped human waste into the lake with little to no treatment, leading to high levels of ammonia and phosphates. This resulted in excessive algae growth, which, upon decomposition by bacteria, caused eutrophic and low-oxygen conditions, choking out fish and plants.
Legal Action
In 1907, the New York State Attorney General threatened the Solvay Process Company with legal action over the direct discharge of waste into the lake. Later, in 2005, the New York State Department of Conservation and Honeywell International agreed on a cleanup plan for the lake-bottom subsite, and in October 2006, a Consent Decree was signed to finalize the agreement.
Long-Term Monitoring
Honeywell International, under the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, has been responsible for the cleanup of six of the nine subsites, including the Onondaga Lake-bottom. The cleanup plan includes:
- Dredging up to 2.65 million cubic yards of contaminated sediments to allow for a 'cap' to be built.
- Dredging in the lake waste deposit to remove 'hot spots'.
- Treatment and/or off-site disposal of contaminated sediments.
- Treating water created by the dredging process to meet discharge limits.
- Extending the lakeshore and installing a 'barrier wall' to retrieve chlorinated benzenes.
- Implementing a long-term operation, maintenance, and monitoring program.
The EPA has also been involved in the cleanup process, providing funding and overseeing investigations and cleanup activities at the lake and its upland sources. The overall cleanup plan involves coordinating efforts across the various subsites to effectively control and contain the contamination.
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Cultural significance: sacred site to the Onondaga Nation and Haudenosaunee Confederacy
Onondaga Lake is sacred to the Onondaga Nation. The Onondaga people had control of the lake taken from them by New York State following the American Revolutionary War. The lake is integral to the history and culture of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations Confederacy or the Iroquois.
Centuries ago, the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca Nations were at war with each other. The Peacemaker, a prophet, brought the nations together on the shores of Onondaga Lake. The warring nations accepted the Peacemaker's message of peace, laid down their arms, and formed the Haudenosaunee Confederacy—the first representative democracy in the West. The lake became a sacred place, one that must be cared for and respected.
The Onondaga are the Keepers of the Fire, or the Keepers of the Council Fire, in the metaphorical longhouse that represents the Confederacy. They are the traditional central meeting place for the nations. The Onondaga strive for the right relationship with nature and give thanks to the grasses, medicines, trees, berries, life-giving foods, animals, birds, waters, winds, thunders, the sun, the stars, and the Creator.
The Onondaga Nation continues to have a religious and cultural presence on the shores of the lake today. The pollution of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, is a long and painful story that mirrors many other stories of dispossession and contamination in the United States. The Onondaga Nation has invoked the legal system to reclaim stolen land rights with the express aim of moving forward with the restoration of the land.
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Frequently asked questions
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has been called the most polluted lake in America. It was polluted by a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping, including mercury contamination. However, after years of cleanup efforts, the lake has undergone a transformation, and in 2012, it was deemed safe for fishing and swimming in certain areas.
Onondaga Lake's pollution was caused primarily by the dumping of industrial waste and sewage into the lake. The Solvay Process Company, which merged with other companies to form the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation, was responsible for discharging waste material and mercury into the lake. Municipal sewage and industrial waste from Syracuse also contributed to the pollution.
The pollution in Onondaga Lake had severe effects on the lake's ecosystem. It led to excessive algae growth due to high levels of ammonia and phosphates, which choked out fish and plants, especially in the deeper areas. The lake also had low oxygen levels, causing fish to swim out of the lake. Mercury contamination made the fish unsafe for human consumption.
Several initiatives have been undertaken to clean up and restore Onondaga Lake. Honeywell, the successor to Allied Chemical, has cleaned factory sites and built an underground barrier wall to prevent contaminated groundwater from seeping into the lake. Recent upgrades at Syracuse’s main sewage facility have helped curb algae-promoting nutrients. A 15-year multi-stage program completed in 2017 allowed the lake to reach the criteria required by environmental agencies. The Onondaga Nation has also been instrumental in the lake's restoration, invoking the legal system to reclaim stolen land rights and promote environmental protection.
