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Cross Program Contaminant Working Group

The Collaboration

Many regional/basin management programs (e.g., National Estuary Program) are actively working to address the presence and impacts of toxic contaminants in the environment. Work includes:

  • Monitoring | to understand the presence and sources of different contaminants in the environment
  • Research | to understand the effects of contaminant exposures on humans and wildlife, and the effectiveness of different mitigation/clean up methods
  • Management | to reduce the amount of contamination in the environment

We are excited to convene groups of scientists, researchers, and managers who are actively involved in the work to share practical information, best practices, and lessons learned. This will help us all be more effective at reducing the effects of contaminants and, importantly, improve our ability to respond to future problematic compounds in the environment.

Our initial focus will be on PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) since they are an active issue in many regional management areas, we have built a breadth of experience and knowledge on their fate, transport, occurrence, and impacts, and clean up and management strategies have been developed.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to learn more or get involved!

Submit an Abstract by May 15

We’re chairing a session at SETAC North America: From PCBS to PFAS – Transferrable Knowledge of Two Persistent Halogenated Organics. Many of you may have relevant research, projects, and reflections. We encourage you to submit an abstract by May 15.

Previous PCB Symposiums

From PCBs to PFAS 05.09.2024

Despite decades of regulation and remedial effort, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) continue to impair environmental health in freshwater and estuarine systems throughout the world. More recently, the environmental and human health impacts of PFAS, another widely used group of halogenated organic compounds, have become apparent. Coupled with ongoing research and monitoring, the regulatory and management (cleanup) systems are rapidly evolving. As pioneers in their respective fields, Steven Eisenreich and Scott Mabury reflected on lessons learned to more efficiently understand the threats and impacts of PCBs and PFAS. There are important similarities and important differences; both can be informative.

Slides 

PCBs in Building Materials & Schools 11.1.2023

We enjoyed a thought-provoking discussion about managing PCBs in building materials and schools. This included reflections on identifying and addressing PCBs in building materials in Washington state and the Bay, respectively, with a focus on building demolitions and renovations. Keri Hornbuckle also summarized insights from her innovative research on PCBs in building materials and schools. Vermont built on this and shared their experience at the forefront of managing PCBs in school buildings.

Slides | Shared Resources 

Source Identification & Tracking 06.15.2023

Thanks to everyone who joined the robust discussion on PCB source identification and tracking approaches. The symposium included three case studies about PCB source tracking in the Lower Beaver Dam Creek, San Francisco Bay, and the Newton Creek Superfund site.

Slides | Shared Resources

PCB program overviews 01.24 & 01.25.2023

We hosted a cross program symposium on January 24 & 25, 2023 focused on sharing practical advice to help improve the cleanup and management of PCBs. Representatives from the Puget Sound, Chesapeake Bay, Spokane River, Delaware River, Great Lakes, and New Bedford Harbor shared:

  • An overview of the status and trends of PCBs in their system including the process and criteria that was used to define the magnitude of the PCB issue.
  • Remedial, management, and mitigation activities that have proven effective or that are priorities moving forward

Slides | Resources shared | Mural