Friday June 14, 2013 Marathon Government Center Vicki Boguszewski, MPH, CHES Government Operations Consultant I Florida Department of Health-Monroe Canal Restoration: What if we do? What if we don’t?

“It is an absolute certainty that endocrine disruptors are present in Florida Bay, our canals, and the near shore waters of the Florida Keys, as well as in all other aquatic ecosystems of our planet. What is not known is what chemicals are present, in what concentrations, and at what times, and most important, what effects, if any, do these chemicals have on the presence and development of aquatic life in our waters. (Moe, CORAL magazine, Jan/Feb 2012)” Endocrine Disruptors in Florida Keys Waters, Moe, M

 Arsenic: contamination of drinking water is related to skin cancer; presents dangers not as an organic compound but as an inorganic compound, particularly as a bio-solid (sludge and sediment from canal bottoms), pesticides are a likely source of contamination  Cooper: has a direct effect on plants and slows the break down of organic compounds. Long-term exposure to copper in humans can cause irritation of the nose, mouth and eyes and it causes headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea. Intentionally high uptakes of copper may cause liver and kidney damage and even death. There are scientific articles that indicate a link between long-term exposure to high concentrations of copper and a decline in intelligence with young adolescents.

 What if we do? ◦ Improved water quality ◦ Improved sediment quality ◦ Reduction of ground contamination from displaced waters ◦ Improve property value ◦ Reduction of health risks ◦ Potential improvement of flow in the overall aquatic ecosystem ◦ Potential restoration of marine life  What if we don’t? ◦ Continued risk of bacterial growth in stagnant waters ◦ Continued risk of toxic exposures ◦ Decline in property values ◦ Continued degradation of the overall aquatic ecosystem ◦ Continued decline of the presence of marine life and depletion of marine resources

Tchounwou PB, Patlolla AK, Centeno JA, 2003, Carcinogenic and systemic health effects associated with arsenic exposure--a critical review. Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory, NIH-Center for Environmental Health, School of Science and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, USA. Copper: Moe, M. 2012, Endocrine Disruptors in Florida Keys Waters. Bolin, W. 2013, Updates on Canal Restoration Efforts Including Monroe County Canal Management Master Plan and Canal Bathymetry Grants , AMEC. Resources Monroe County Department of Marine Resources, 2003, Monroe County Residential Canal Inventory and Assessment Final GIS Deliverable, MACTEC. Jenkins et. al., 2007, Health effects of Bio-solids applied to land available scientific evidence. Thank you! (305) School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine, 2009, Endocrine disruptors: effects on wildlife and human health darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/bio65/Bio65_Apr29.pdf