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Runoff Pollutants in Michigan's Lakes

Residential, commercial and industrial development has expanded in many counties in Michigan even though populations have decreased. According to a fact sheet published by Environment Michigan, a state sponsored informational website, heavy rainfalls will travel to lakes and rivers from the sewer systems after collection from roads, parking lots, streets and sidewalks. The collection of pollutants from these concrete and blacktop coverings is deposited into lakes along with storm-water runoff and renders lake water unsuitable for consumption and the maintenance of wildlife species.

  1. Pollutants in Michigan Lakes

    • A website run by the Great Lakes Commission in Ann Arbor, Michigan, lists the most important pollutants as by-products of water-treatment facilities, which include pharmaceuticals, nitrogen compounds as well as metals deposited in rivers and lakes from industrials uses. Among these metals, cadmium, zinc and lead have been extensively evaluated and have been shown to interfere with the development, metabolism and reproduction of aquatic species of plant and animals. Other pollutants include mercury and arsenic, which have been shown to cause birth defects and chronic diseases in humans.

    Cadmium

    • Cadmium is a metal that is used in the process of steel production and in the manufacturing of batteries. A January 2011 article appearing in "Critical Reviews in Toxicology" investigated the role of cadmium in cellular signaling, which induces cell death and other biological processes. In this study, the author reviewed available findings from other investigations and found that cadmium can regulate genetic processes in cells and induces stress-response genes and those that invoke a genetically cell-death process called apoptosis. The authors also noted that cadmium leads to the dysregulation of many other processes involving cellular metabolism and signaling.

    Lead and Zinc

    • An article appearing in the September 2010 issue of "Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry" investigated the effect of lead, cadmium and zinc on freshwater mussels. The authors exposed juvenile mussels to the contaminants for 48 and 96 hour intervals to evaluate their effects on protein function. The authors found that freshwater mussels were highly sensitive to the toxicity of these metals, which lead to the dysregulation of several biological processes due to the interference in protein formation and subsequent function.

    Arsenic

    • Arsenic is a pollutant of many lakes located near industrial complexes. Increased levels of arsenic make these waters toxic to humans and animals alike. A study appearing in the March 2011 issue of the "Journal of Applied Toxicology" stated that arsenic is involved in the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have been well-documented as a causative factor in the development of birth defects and cancer. The authors further found that arsenic will damage DNA through the formation of ROS, peroxides and other byproducts which, in turn, lead to the development cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders as well as liver and kidney damage.

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