From microplastics to pharmaceuticals, contaminants of emerging concern, CECs, are increasingly making their way into our environment, but with awareness and simple actions, we can all play a role in reducing their impact. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an emerging contaminant, EC, or contaminant of emerging concern, is a substance that has no regulatory standard, has recently been "discovered," and may have negative environmental impacts. 

The difference between the names EC and CECs is slight but important, because, while the former calls to mind contaminants that we’re just learning about or were recently found, the latter also includes contaminants that have been known for a long time but were only recently detected in the environment or recognized as pollutants due to scientific advancements. Many of these contaminants of emerging concern come from industrial and commercial sources that are out of our control, but some can be sourced to our homes and prevented by our careful actions — protecting our soils, lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water.

Why do we care about Contaminants of Emerging Concern?

Many of the household contaminants of emerging concern that can have negative impacts on human and environmental health are preventable! We can all do simple things to cut down on the pollution we create. Pollution caused by microplastics, pharmaceuticals, ice melt, and lawncare chemicals can all be reduced through careful use, storage, and disposal of these substances. Let’s take a look at some common household contaminants of emerging concern, their impacts, and how you can help prevent them from becoming pollutants.

Microplastics are a type of marine debris, and are found in soils, air, water — even in our bodies. They are small, less than 5mm, pieces of plastic, and include fragments of larger plastic garbage, like water bottles or plastic wrap. while there are many ways to reduce your exposure to microplastics, there are also ways to prevent some of them from entering the environment in the first place. These fragments are often created as other waste breaks down, so proper disposal of garbage, especially while outside, can help prevent your water bottle from ending up in a storm drain and becoming debris that breaks down into microplastic pieces. Avoiding single use plastics, switching to reusable bags and water bottles, refusing straws, and properly disposing or recycling your waste will all help to prevent plastic pollution in the first place. 

Microfibers are a specific type of microplastic shed from clothing and non-natural textiles like microfleece and rayon. Choosing natural fabrics like wool and cotton, only washing synthetic clothing like microfleece when absolutely necessary, and only washing full loads on the gentle cycle will cut down on the number of microfibers created by your laundry. You can also install a filter on your washing machine to capture the fibers. 

Pharmaceuticals are prescriptions or over-the-counter pills, liquids, and creams that every home has, and as they expire or become unwanted, they become waste that can be difficult to dispose of properly. Don’t flush them or put them down the drain.  Wastewater treatment systems can’t remove all these chemicals, and they get in our lakes, rivers, and drinking water at low levels. This is bad for aquatic life; research has shown that aquatic organism behaviors can change in detrimental ways, leading to death or reduced reproduction. 

While the levels in our drinking water aren’t high enough to give us a dose of medicine, research is still ongoing about whether long-term exposure to low doses of pharmaceuticals is detrimental to human health. To reduce these risks, always use a takeback program to dispose of unwanted or expired medicines. Often sponsored by pharmacies or local law enforcement; you can find your closest location and get more helpful tips by visiting unwantedmeds.org.

Deicer or Ice Melt is used in the winter to keep roads, driveways, and outdoor stairs and paths safe from ice buildup. There are a number of different chemicals used as ice melt, but the most common is salt. When the snow melts or it rains, this salt washes into storm drains and our rivers, streams, and lakes, where it harms fish, frogs, and other aquatic life. There is no practical way to remove salt, so the only way to keep salt out of the environment is to reduce our use. The best approach is to carefully apply it only when and where you need it. One 12 oz. coffee mug of salt is enough for 500 square feet of pavement - remove snow first and spread carefully, avoiding clumps. And keep an eye on the temperature; rock salt won’t work below 15°F.

Lawncare chemicals include fertilizers and pesticides. A soil test can determine if fertilizer is even necessary, and often hand-pulling or spot-treating weeds can be sufficient. Both organic and synthetic versions of these chemicals can become pollutants if not stored and used according to package directions. Importantly, proper application reduces the amount of chemical that runs off your lawn and into your watershed. Avoid weed and feed products. If you must use both fertilizer and pesticides on your lawn, apply them separately at the appropriate time to maximize their benefits. The best time to feed your lawn might not be the best time to control weeds! 

Visit lawntolakemidwest.org to learn more about how to care for your lawn in a more natural way.

How can I learn more about Contaminants of Emerging Concern?

Visit Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Contaminants of Emerging Concern program webpage to learn more and view an expandable database of information about different types of CECs.