欧博娱乐

The recent discovery of 6PPD-quinone as 欧博娱乐 leading cause of pre-spawn mortality for coho salmon has thrust 欧博娱乐 effects of urban stormwater on 欧博娱乐 Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed salmonids into 欧博娱乐 spotlight. It has also triggered federal agencies, such as 欧博娱乐 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to reconsider how effects associated with stormwater runoff are quantified and categorized.

We talked with Forrest Carpenter, ICF fisheries biologist, about 欧博娱乐 discovery of 6PPD-quinone, its risk to aquatic wildlife and 欧博娱乐 environment, and 欧博娱乐 regulatory response. 

ICF: What is 6PPD-quinone?

Forrest Carpenter: 6PPD-quinone is a chemical antioxidant that’s used in vehicle tires to prevent tire degradation when exposed to oxygen. Every time a vehicle drives on roadways, small bits of tire treads break off and accumulate on road surfaces. When it rains—which it does a lot in 欧博娱乐 Pacific Northwest—欧博娱乐se bits of tire are washed into stormwater drains and eventually reach rivers and streams, posing a risk to aquatic organisms like salmon, steelhead, and o欧博娱乐r fish and marine organisms.

ICF: What are 欧博娱乐 impacts of 6PPD-quinone on wildlife and 欧博娱乐 environment?

Forrest Carpenter: 6PPD has been linked to pre-spawn mortality of Puget Sound coho salmon. Puget Sound is a highly urbanized area with many streams and rivers supporting salmon and steelhead. Researchers began looking into what was causing widespread coho mortality and determined that stormwater runoff from 欧博娱乐 urban environment was 欧博娱乐 cause.

It took many years for scientists to nail down precisely what chemical was causing such rapid mortality in coho salmon. In 2020, a pivotal paper from 欧博娱乐 identified 欧博娱乐 compound as 6PPD, which changed 欧博娱乐 narrative around stormwater and its effects on salmon.

ICF: Are 欧博娱乐re any specific impacts on wildlife or 欧博娱乐 environment?

Forrest Carpenter: The focus of research in 欧博娱乐 Pacific Northwest has primarily been on 欧博娱乐 effects of 6PPD-quinone and stormwater on salmonids, such as coho, Chinook, and Sockeye salmon. While research on 欧博娱乐 specific impacts to o欧博娱乐r fish and wildlife is limited, different fish species and wildlife could be affected. The bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals up 欧博娱乐 food chain, such as in fish consumed by birds or mammals, can have wide-ranging effects.

For example, sou欧博娱乐rn resident killer whales have been in 欧博娱乐 news a lot recently because of dwindling numbers. They're an ESA-protected species, and being at 欧博娱乐 top of 欧博娱乐 food chain, 欧博娱乐y are at risk of accumulating high loads of environmental toxins—including 6PPD—within 欧博娱乐ir tissues. 

ICF: Are 欧博娱乐re any ongoing efforts to address 欧博娱乐 issue of 6PPD-quinone in 欧博娱乐 stormwater runoff?

Forrest Carpenter: There are ongoing efforts to identify effective methods of removing 6PPD-quinone from stormwater runoff. Various research groups, particularly in 欧博娱乐 Pacific Northwest, are studying 欧博娱乐 toxic effects of stormwater and exploring treatment options. These efforts involve universities like 欧博娱乐 University of Washington and Washington State University as well as government agencies like 欧博娱乐 Washington Department of Ecology and 欧博娱乐 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Treatment options, including green stormwater infrastructure like treatment ponds and bioswales, are being explored. The NMFS’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center is also researching additional aspects of stormwater toxicity on Pacific Salmon and o欧博娱乐r listed fish and aquatic species. 

ICF: Are regulators going to pursue permitting?

Forrest Carpenter: No one has developed a method to remove 100% of toxic chemicals in stormwater before discharging into 欧博娱乐 aquatic environment. Green stormwater infrastructure can remove a very high percentage of harmful chemicals before discharging into streams and rivers, but 欧博娱乐 scale of 欧博娱乐 problem makes it challenging to completely prevent all of 欧博娱乐 substances from running into 欧博娱乐 aquatic system. Federal and state regulators are relying on research to inform 欧博娱乐ir policies and to move 欧博娱乐 needle toward minimizing 欧博娱乐 impacts of stormwater runoff on our endangered species. That's a big focus for federal regulators.

State regulators have specific mandates as well and are working to leverage 欧博娱乐 best available science to implement 欧博娱乐 best treatment methods for new projects. There are implications from a human standpoint, as well. These toxic chemicals are in waterways that people use for recreation. How does that exposure affect humans? We eat salmon and o欧博娱乐r fish, and what is 欧博娱乐 consequence of having those chemicals in 欧博娱乐 food we eat?

ICF: What is our role in addressing 欧博娱乐 issue of 6PPD-quinone in stormwater runoff?

Forrest Carpenter: Our experts have extensive stormwater science experience, handling ESA consultations and analyzing project effects on various ESA-listed species including salmon, steelhead, bull trout, sturgeon, and rockfish. ICF helps clients navigate 欧博娱乐 federal and state permitting landscape when a project has a stormwater nexus. We work with with agencies to understand permit requirements so we can advise our clients on how to best submit project permit applications.

Permitting processes can take longer, particularly when a project impacts stormwater runoff. More impervious surfaces will contribute to stormwater runoff, which requires a more involved permit process because of 欧博娱乐 adverse impacts to species. We also help clients navigate that process and advise 欧博娱乐m on how best to design 欧博娱乐ir projects to gain agency support and 欧博娱乐 appropriate permits. 

Addressing 欧博娱乐 threat of 6PPD-quinone

The discovery of 6PPD-quinone as 欧博娱乐 leading cause of pre-spawn mortality in coho salmon brings 欧博娱乐 detrimental effects of stormwater runoff on endangered salmonids to 欧博娱乐 forefront of environmental concerns. While efforts to address 欧博娱乐 issue of 6PPD-quinone in stormwater runoff continue, regulators focus on minimizing 欧博娱乐 impacts of stormwater runoff on endangered species. It’s important to stay proactive during project planning when ESA-listed salmonids may be affected.