Lake Whatcom Reservoir: Adding Up Sublethal Public Health Risks

Tim Paxton is president of the Clean Water Alliance, past president of North Cascades Audubon Society and owner of a software development company.

What is it that Whatcom County employees know that you don’t about Lake Whatcom water? Recently photographed at the north end of the County Courthouse was a Culligan truck pulling up to deliver bottled water (this is a regular delivery). At the south end of the building, the Crystal Springs/Sparkletts truck driver was observed delivering racks of large bottles of treated water for county employees.

Whatcom County and its health department are well funded with millions of public tax dollars and, apparently, their co-workers in the county building are sending a not too subtle message about the sublethal health effects of water quality in Lake Whatcom reservoir.

It’s well known that Lake Whatcom waters have been allowed to degrade in recent years and the reservoir is listed as an Environmental Protection Agency “303(d) failed waterway” for mercury, PCBs, dieldrin, phosphorus and dissolved oxygen. The 303(d) list is for “Impaired Waters Under the Clean Water Act.” How many water drinkers remember that Lake Whatcom was declared a “public health hazard” in 1992 (see sidebar on page 6)?

More recently, the director of the Institute for Watershed Studies at WWU, Dr. Robin Matthews, declared that the reservoir is in serious decline due to development pressures, already overbuilt and may never regain its former water quality (see “Losing the Battle to Save Lake Whatcom,” Whatcom Watch, October/November 2004).

But, what about the sublethal public health risks? It’s probably long overdue for the county to engage a qualified public health toxicologist to review Lake Whatcom pollution data. In 1999, the Clean Water Alliance hired the late Dr. Marc Lappe, respected and expert toxicologist from California, to review the water pollution data on Lake Whatcom reservoir (see sidebar on page 7). His conclusion in 1999 was to order an immediate “cease and desist” on further development of Lake Whatcom reservoir.

Despite receiving numerous requests for a current analysis of contaminants, the County Council, which also serves as your Whatcom County Board of Health, refuses to engage an expert to protect public health. What are the health risks associated with the uncontrolled development of the city of Bellingham’s drinking water reservoir? Following are 10 health risk factors to consider:

Cryptosporidium is a parasitic coccidian protozoan that, when ingested, can cause intestinal illness including diarrhea and vomiting. The parasite makes it difficult for the small intestine to absorb water and nutrients. In severe cases and in those with weakened immune systems, such as cancer and AIDS patients, this health problem can become deadly. Cryptosporidium is deadly to infants, the elderly and the immunosuppressed and is resistant to filtration/treatment.

Cryptosporidium has been found in Austin Creek and Lake Whatcom (see page 6 sidebar, “Lake Whatcom Declared a Public Health Hazard”). Unfortunately, the health department reportedly tests for cryptosporidium only every three months. The city of Bellingham, instead of working to prevent outbreaks, simply provides specially treated bottled water to immunosuppressed citizens. Cryptosporidium in Milwaukee’s drinking water resulted in about 100 deaths and made 400,000 other people ill in 1993, despite a state-of-the-art water treatment plant.

Methylmercury is an ubiquitous neurotoxin that was found in recent years at levels in the untreated water at 200 percent of EPA’s maximum contamination levels (MCL). Lakefront residents who draw water from the lake were not informed of this fact by the county health department according to retired Washington Department Fish and Wildlife biologist Jim Johnston. The EPA in the Great Lakes region regulates mercury at levels that are 1/1000 of the current EPA MCL. So, levels that seem “safe” now are being reduced dramatically across America. Mercury is related to Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. Whatcom County, coincidentally was ranked as the number seven county out of 3,100 counties in the USA for Ritalin prescriptions.

Trihalomethanes (THMs) in treated water are a byproduct of chlorination. Disinfection byproducts are formed when disinfectants used in water treatment plants react with bromide and/or natural organic matter (i.e., decaying vegetation) present in the source water. Chlorine mixing with algae and organic matter in the water can cause muscle and nerve damage, miscarriages and bladder cancers. Lake Whatcom algae content is increasing mainly due to phosphorus loading from runoff.

Development of the lake leads to increased sediments and phosphorus nutrients, which load the lake with algae. There’s also an increasing amount of chlorine added to your drinking water to offset the increase in pollutants. The city and county know the trend is increasing THMs in your tap water but have no plans to address or reduce these known carcinogens. THMs cause 10,000 cases of colon and bladder cancer annually in the USA. New data now suggests that algae leads to Alzheimers and other dementia-type brain damage. Sublethal, but avoidable.

High levels of phthalates found in Lake Whatcom are now known to cause mutation in development of male infants and are a possible endocrine disruptor. Dr. Marc Lappe wrote this about phthalates: The most ubiquitous contaminant in the Lake Whatcom system is diethylhexylphthalate also described as bis (2-ethyhexly) phthalate. This chemical is widely used plasticizer, which is proven animal carcinogen. Its use in children’s toys has recently been banned and its continued presence as an additive to medical tubing and blood bags in under review. At the present levels in the Lake Whatcom system, several samples exceed the permissible level of 1.8 ug/L under the National Toxics Rule of 1992. The likely source of this contaminant is from insufficiently processed human wastes and sewage discharges.

New research results, published in May 2005, claim a statistical correlation between exposure to phthalates and structural changes (underdevelopment) in the genitalia of male infants. The study, conducted in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Columbia, Mo. and Los Angeles, examined 85 infant boys and used urine samples taken from their mothers during the final few months of pregnancy. Baby boys are far more likely to have smaller, less developed genitals if their mothers had high levels of chemicals (phthalates) commonly found in cosmetics, detergents, medicines and plastics. The study’s lead author is a professor of reproductive epidemiology at the University of Rochester; the study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found in Lake Whatcom. High levels of these carcinogens are attributed mainly to motorized boating and runoff. PAHs are a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage or other organic substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat. PAHs are usually found as a mixture containing two or more of these compounds, such as soot. Some PAHs are manufactured. PAHs are found in coal tar, crude oil, creosote and roofing tar, but a few are used in medicines or to make dyes, plastics and pesticides.

They may make Lake Whatcom unusable as a drinking water source. Again from Dr. Lappe: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. The presence of high sediment levels of PAHs in Basin 1 of Lake Whatcom is indicative of prior contamination with petroleum-derived chemicals. The observed levels (14,600 ug/kg of sediment) are extremely high, and are likely to remain a reservoir of contaminants in the lake water proper over the next few decades. Surface waters of tributaries to the lake contain several PAHs of health concern at levels at or above those which generate a cancer risk of one in a million namely benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(k)fluoranthrene and benzo(b)fluoranthrene, each of which is present at levels ranging from 5 -10 times higher than the human health criteria value of 0.0028ug/L. Additional PAHs of concern in contributing waterways include chrysene and fluoranthene.

Without further treatment and removal. (e.g. through activated carbon filtration), the continuing flows of PAHs at these levels would make Lake Whatcom water an unacceptable drinking water source. The likely impact of further development and accompanying increase in combustion byproducts would only add to this contaminant level.

The BTEX group of pollutants (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene) are the volatile components commonly associated with petroleum products. In Lake Whatcom, the BTEX group is attributed to boating and automobiles—they are runoff contaminants of concern, carcinogens and completely avoidable. Benzene is known human carcinogen. It is toxic in parts per billion. The city’s intake is some 35 deep in Basin 2 but manages to draw in significant amounts of benzene in the summer boating season. Benzene is less dense than water and the EPA has set benzene’s maximum contamination level “goal” at zero.

Because of the cost to remove benzene from small water treatment purveyor’s systems, the EPA’s MCL (maximum contamination level) was set, largely, for financial reasons, at five parts per billion. Again, their MCL goal is zero parts per billion. Higher exposure equals more cancers and other benzene-related health problems for Bellingham residents. The following treatment method has been approved by EPA for removing benzene: granular activated charcoal in combination with packed tower aeration. It would take only one ounce of benzene to contaminate over 1.6 million gallons of drinking water!

Sewage is present in Lake Whatcom and pollutes the lake with pharmaceuticals, bacteria and viral contaminants with the high possibility of septic systems methylating mercury to add to existing problems. Dr. Marc Lappe’s report states: The continued presence of bacterial (and presumably viral) contaminants would predictably lead to further deterioration of drinking water quality from the Lake Whatcom source because of the necessity of excessive chlorination of the water and the concomitant buildup of chlorination byproducts posing a human cancer risk.

In 2001, another major dumping of raw sewage occurred with nearly one million gallons of raw sewage dumped into the reservoir. A boil water alert was issued. Due to massive rainfall, valves from the Sudden Valley detention tank were opened for three days, sending combined sewage and water across the golf course and into Lake Whatcom. Warnings were not posted until five days later. The Clean Water Alliance had previously sued the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District to stop their practice of dumping raw sewage into the reservoir. In December 2002, there was a sewage overflow due to an electrical failure from the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District pump station near the Sudden Valley campground. There was a five-day boil notice issued. In October 2003, a boil advisory was in place for one week after sewage spilled into Lake Whatcom from the Geneva area. For a more complete history of sewage spills, see http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~gmyers/ehe/timeline.html.

E. coli (Escherichia coli 0157:H7) is deadly bacteria found in sewage and on some Lake Whatcom beaches and reservoir tributaries. What are the health effects of E. coli 0157:H7? The damage is so severe that if we acquire this bacterial strain, we not only lose water and salts, but also blood vessels are damaged and bleeding occurs—lots of bleeding—hemorrhaging. This condition is particularly dangerous to small children; it can be lethal because children are too small to tolerate much blood and fluid loss. It is for this reason that small children shouldn’t be allowed to become dehydrated, even in mild cases of diarrhea.

Also, in some cases another syndrome is involved which is called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by kidney failure and loss of red blood cells. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of children progress to this stage of the disease, which is very dangerous for them. In severe cases, the disease can cause permanent kidney damage. The presence of this bacterium can also be very dangerous to the elderly or infirm. There can be a combination of HUS and some other problems involving the blood system, which can be lethal to the elderly in 50 percent of the cases.

Whatcom County children suffer from an E. coli rate that is approximately 350 percent higher than the state average. County officials downplay that statistic but also ignore the massive dumping of raw sewage into the reservoir. The current policy is to issue a “boil water alert.” (For more information about E. coli, see http://news.bellinghamherald.com/stories/20031112/TopStories/163738.shml; http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/as/finance/pdf/budgets/2003/03Health.pdf (Page 10); http://depts.washington.edu/commnutr/cases/whatcom/w-demoinfo.htm.)

PCBs and dieldrin are two major carcinogenic contaminants that get little mention and are two of the five reasons Lake Whatcom reservoir is on the 303(d) list. Dieldrin is an insecticide and a byproduct of the pesticide Aldrin. Dieldrin is ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10 percent) to ecosystems and human health.

PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) have been demonstrated to cause a variety of adverse health effects. Studies in humans provide supportive evidence for potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of PCBs. The different health effects of PCBs may be interrelated, as alterations in one system may have significant implications for the other systems of the body (see potentiation below). Dr. Marc Lappe’s comment: From an ecological viewpoint, the present level of aroclors [which are commercial mixtures of PCB compounds] in the lake is also substantially above any acceptable level. Every single sample of kokanee trout and smallmouth bass sample taken exceeded the National Toxics Rule for PCB-1254 and 1269. This means fish taken from the lake cannot be safely eaten by pregnant women and children. These data clearly indicate that Lake Whatcom has already been adversely impacted by human activity and resultant contamination.

The 10th most worrisome sublethal health problem in the reservoir is the combination effects on human health, which is called potentiation. For example, PCBs and mercury attack the same center of your brain. Acting alone, a brain may take a higher load of mercury, however in combination with PCBs, the damaging effect of mercury is reportedly magnified. The same occurs with PAHs and benzene from motor boating. PAHs reduce the body’s immune system response and benzene is a known carcinogen. Other combinations are understudied and unknown.

In summary, the alarming contaminant list for Lake Whatcom reservoir has already been noted by the many who now can afford to drink bottled water. The decision makers in the County Courthouse likely avoid drinking Bellingham tap water. This may reduce the urgency of addressing the above issues. Each contaminant in itself may be below EPA maximum contaminant levels, but in combination they may be damaging the health of the weakest of our water consumers.

It is irresponsible for the city and county administrations to continue to ignore these problems and push ahead for full development and build out of Lake Whatcom. It is way past time to follow Dr. Lappe’s conclusion and order an immediate “cease and desist” on further development of Lake Whatcom reservoir. §