Greta Jimenez
The Great Lakes, which span over 1,200 kilometres across North America, are one of the world's largest and most important surface freshwater ecosystems. However, due to decades of pollution from industrial, agricultural, and urban sources, the Great Lakes are facing severe environmental issues. Pollution in the Great Lakes comes from various sources, including industrial waste, agricultural runoff, sewage disposal, toxic chemicals, and plastic waste. The effects of pollution in the Great Lakes have led to poorer water quality, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss, with far-reaching consequences for both the environment and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pollution | Plastic, sewage, chemical, nutrient, toxic, agricultural, urban, industrial, radioactivity |
| Specific pollutants | Microplastics, microbeads, pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, oil, gasoline, road salt, lead |
| Causes | Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, urban runoff, sewage disposal, overdevelopment, air pollution, climate change |
| Impact | Water quality, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, algal blooms, dead fish, deformed wildlife, health concerns for humans |
| Location | Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario |
| Action | Legislation, clean-up orders, wastewater treatment facilities, conservation practices in agriculture |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial, agricultural, and urban pollution
Agricultural Pollution
Agricultural pollution is a significant issue for the Great Lakes, with farm fields being the main source of nutrient pollution. When it rains, excess fertilizer and manure from these fields flow into waterways that feed into the Great Lakes. This runoff contains high levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which, while vital for plant growth, can have disastrous effects on the lakes. These include harmful algal blooms and dead zones. Algal blooms can make water toxic to fish, wildlife, and people, while dead zones are areas where there is too little oxygen in the water for aquatic life to survive.
Industrial Pollution
Industrial waste has also contributed to the pollution of the Great Lakes, particularly in the case of Lake Erie, which had become predominantly polluted by the 1960s due to the heavy industrial presence along its shores. Factories dumped chemical pollutants into the lake and the waterways that flowed into it, such as the Cuyahoga and Detroit Rivers. With a lack of substantial government oversight, waste, pesticides, and fertilizer from surrounding cities' sewers and industrial plants made their way into the lake.
Urban Pollution
Urban pollution is another factor impacting the Great Lakes. Fecal pollution, which enters the lakes via sewage discharges, agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater runoff, is a pervasive problem. Sewage contamination carries multiple stressors for the environment, including nutrients, chemical contaminants, pharmaceuticals, and disease-causing pathogens. Additionally, plastic pollution, largely from single-use items, is a serious issue for the Great Lakes. Microplastics, which are toxic and can absorb other chemicals, have been found in Great Lakes fish, drinking water, bottled water, and even beer.
Overall, a combination of industrial, agricultural, and urban pollution has caused significant harm to the Great Lakes ecosystem, threatening drinking water sources and the health of both people and wildlife in the region.
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Plastic pollution
Plastics do not biodegrade but instead break down into toxic microplastic particles that contaminate the lakes. These microplastics have been found in Great Lakes fish, drinking water, bottled water, and beer. They have also been discovered in human blood, organs, and breast milk. The harm they cause to wildlife is well-documented, but their effects on humans are still unknown.
Microplastics enter the Great Lakes through various pathways. They often originate from larger pieces of plastic trash that break down over time, as well as from "nurdles," small plastic pieces used in larger product manufacturing. Single-use plastics are a major contributor to microplastic pollution, with much of the litter coming from disposable items. These microplastics are then carried by heavy winds and rainstorms into the lakes. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants, as well as lint from laundry machines, also contribute to the problem.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is actively working to address plastic pollution through its Adopt-a-Beach program. This initiative involves thousands of volunteers participating in shoreline cleanups across all five Great Lakes. While these efforts are commendable, a more systemic solution is needed to tackle the magnitude of the plastic pollution issue. Illinois has taken a lead in this regard, passing legislation to address plastic production and reduction, improve reuse systems, and enhance data collection for policymaking.
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Sewage overflows
Sewage overflow is a significant issue contributing to the pollution of the Great Lakes. It occurs due to old and failing infrastructure in cities, resulting in tens of billions of gallons of raw sewage and stormwater ending up in the Great Lakes annually. This problem is exacerbated during heavy rainstorms when the flow exceeds the capacity of treatment plants, allowing raw sewage to bypass the treatment process and enter the lakes.
The presence of combined sewer systems, which collect stormwater and sanitary waste in the same pipes, further complicates the issue. When the volume of wastewater surpasses the capacity of the system, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) occur, discharging a mixture of sewage and stormwater into the lakes. While permits are in place to regulate these discharges, with 166 NPDES permits issued to 158 communities, the impact on water quality remains a concern.
Lake Erie, in particular, has historically suffered from severe pollution due to heavy industrial activity along its shores. Factories dumped chemical pollutants into the lake and its tributaries, such as the Cuyahoga River and the Detroit River. In 1964, an International Joint Commission report stated that the lower 26 miles of the Detroit River were polluted to a degree that interfered with municipal water supplies, recreation, and wildlife propagation. This situation led to the declaration that "Lake Erie was dead" in the 1970s, sparking an international movement to address the pollution crisis.
To mitigate sewage overflows and improve water quality, investments in infrastructure upgrades are critical. This includes separating storm and sewage systems or implementing holding tanks to capture excess sewage during heavy rainfall until it can be properly treated. Additionally, implementing measures to control industrial waste and enforcing legislation can help reduce the pollution entering the Great Lakes.
The issue of sewage overflows in the Great Lakes highlights the urgent need for improved wastewater management and infrastructure development to protect the ecological integrity of these vital water bodies and ensure safe and sustainable water resources for the surrounding communities.
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Hazardous waste
The lack of substantial government oversight in the Great Lakes Basin allowed waste and pesticides from surrounding cities' sewers, industrial plants, and agricultural activities to flow into the lakes unchecked. Fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals used by farmers, golf course managers, and homeowners also contributed to the pollution. Additionally, sewage disposal, overdevelopment of the water's edge, and runoff from urbanization further contaminated the lakes.
The Detroit River, a shipping channel and transportation pathway, also suffered from hazardous waste dumping. An International Joint Commission report in 1964 highlighted the severe pollution in the lower 26 miles of the river, which interfered with municipal water supplies, recreation, and wildlife propagation. Oil spills in the river led to the deaths of thousands of ducks, geese, and other native wildlife species, bringing attention to the dire situation of the Great Lakes pollution.
Today, new types of toxic pollution continue to threaten the Great Lakes. Non-point-source pollution, including agricultural and urban runoff, creates toxic algal blooms and other ecological threats. Microplastics, which break down from plastic straws, bottles, and other items, are consumed by aquatic organisms and can absorb and transmit chemicals and harmful bacteria up the food chain. More than 22 million pounds of plastic are estimated to enter the Great Lakes annually, with most of it ending up in Lake Michigan.
The pollution in the Great Lakes has had severe ecological and health impacts. Even in small concentrations, the toxins distributed via the lakes can cause cancer, birth defects, and damage to the nervous and immune systems. These pollutants can accumulate in fatty tissue, increasing their concentrations as they move up the food chain.
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Climate change
The Great Lakes are a crucial source of freshwater, covering nearly 95,000 square miles (250,000 square kilometres) and holding over 20% of the world's surface freshwater. They support a multibillion-dollar maritime economy and provide raw materials for industry. However, the effects of climate change are threatening this vital ecosystem.
The rising temperatures in the Great Lakes are a significant concern. Warmer temperatures contribute to lower water levels as water evaporates more quickly. This has a detrimental effect on the surrounding environment, drying out coastal wetlands and increasing their exposure to toxic sediments. The warming of the lakes also contributes to the frequency and severity of storms and rainfall events, leading to sewage overflows that further pollute the lakes.
In addition to the direct impact of rising temperatures, climate change also exacerbates other environmental issues affecting the Great Lakes. For example, the increased rainfall caused by climate change can wash pollutants into the lakes, including road salt, oil, gasoline, and other contaminants. Climate change also influences agricultural practices, with farmers applying pesticides and fertilizers that can eventually find their way into the water.
The effects of climate change on the Great Lakes highlight the urgent need for concrete policy implementation and regulation to protect and restore this vital ecosystem. Individual actions, such as reducing plastic consumption, are important, but systemic solutions are required to address the magnitude of the problem.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Lakes have been polluted by human activities such as industrial waste, sewage disposal, toxic contamination through heavy metals and pesticides, agricultural and urban runoff, and plastic pollution.
Factories have been dumping chemical pollutants into the lakes and the waterways that flow into them. For example, by the 1960s, Lake Erie was predominantly polluted due to the heavy industrial presence along its shores.
Sewage disposal has contaminated the Great Lakes, with raw sewage ending up in the lakes due to combined storm water and sanitary sewer systems. This has led to dangerous water that kills fish and affects human health.
