Emergent Contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay
On August 13th, the VoiCeS Stewardship Program tackled one of the most pressing yet under-discussed threats to the Chesapeake Bay: emergent contaminants. From microplastics to PFAS to toxic pavement sealants, these pollutants are reshaping ecosystems in ways we are only beginning to understand.
🌊 Microplastics: The Everywhere Problem
Dr. Joe Wood, Virginia Senior Scientist, emphasized that microplastics are not a single problem — they are many problems at once. Tiny particles, some as small as bacteria, are now in our air, land, water, and even our bloodstreams. A recent study found microplastics in 80% of human blood samples.
- Primary microplastics are manufactured particles (like microbeads).
- Secondary microplastics result from the breakdown of larger plastics.
- These particles carry toxic pollutants, sticking to pesticides, heavy metals, and chemicals as they move through the environment.
Alarmingly, the Chesapeake Bay acts as a sink for microplastics — more than 90% of riverine microplastics stay in the estuary instead of flushing to the ocean. This means impacts concentrate in one of the world’s most productive ecosystems, threatening fish, oysters, and seagrasses.
🧪 PFAS: The “Forever Chemicals”
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in everything from nonstick pans to firefighting foam. Known as “forever chemicals,” they resist breakdown and accumulate in water, soil, and living organisms.
- Studies show PFAS in Chesapeake Bay fish, where they disrupt immune systems, hormones, and reproduction.
- They move up the food chain, putting birds , and humans who eat fish at risk.
- Stricter regulations and new cleanup technologies are urgently needed.
Get Erin Moore’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
⚠️ Toxic Sealants and PAHs
Coal tar-based pavement sealants leach polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chemicals tied to cancer in both fish and humans.
- Research links PAHs to oyster reproduction failure and fish tumors in the Potomac River.
- Though Virginia recently moved toward a statewide ban, these sealants remain in use in some areas, continuing to pollute runoff and waterways.
🌱 The Stewardship Connection
Unlike visible issues like litter or algal blooms, emergent contaminants are often invisible, complex, and poorly regulated. Yet they carry deep implications for Bay health. As stewards, our role is to:
- Advocate for monitoring programs and legislation that track and limit these pollutants.
- Support community education about PFAS, microplastics, and toxic sealants.
- Push for investment in safer alternatives and cleanup technologies.
The Bay cannot thrive if contaminants continue to accumulate unchecked. Science, policy, and community voices must come together to stop pollution before it becomes permanent.
