Organic waste compounds as contaminants in Milwaukee-area streams

Austin K. Baldwin; Steven R. Corsi; Christopher Magruder; Matthew Magruder; Jennifer L. Bruce

doi:10.3133/fs20153056

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USGS · fs20153056

Organic waste compounds as contaminants in Milwaukee-area streams

Austin K. Baldwin·Steven R. Corsi·Christopher Magruder·Matthew Magruder·Jennifer L. Bruce

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Abstract

Organic waste compounds (OWCs) are ingredients and by-products of common agricultural, industrial, and household substances that can contaminate our streams through sources like urban runoff, sewage overflows, and leaking septic systems. To better understand how OWCs are affecting Milwaukee-area streams, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, conducted a three-year study to investigate the presence and potential toxicity of 69 OWCs in base flow, stormflow, pore water, and sediment at 14 stream sites and 3 Milwaukee harbor locations. This fact sheet summarizes the major findings of this study, including detection frequencies and concentrations, potential toxicity, the prevalence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the influence of urbanization.

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Fact Sheet Report

Source-reported bounding extent: 42.85180609584705° to 43.22319117678931° latitude; -88.09112548828125° to -87.77801513671875° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Austin K. Baldwin, Steven R. Corsi, Christopher Magruder, Matthew Magruder, Jennifer L. Bruce. 2015-09-22. Organic waste compounds as contaminants in Milwaukee-area streams. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20153056

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