What is an Area of Concern (AoC)?
In 1987, the U.S. and Canada identified and committed to restoring the 43 most toxic hot spots within the Great Lakes basin, known as Areas of Concern, or AoCs. The sediments in Great Lakes AoCs contain high concentrations of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, which threaten humans, aquatic organisms, and wildlife health.
The Oswego River AoC, located in the City of Oswego, is the first delisted AoC. Successful projects, including dam removal and upgrading sewage treatment plants, have improved water quality, habitat, and the Oswego River’s flow.
Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, and Mirex are man-made chemicals once used as insecticides and flame retardants. They accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. Exposure impacts the nervous system, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, and reproduction in animals and people.
Dioxins and Furans are persistent chemicals that accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals, released as a by-product of manufacturing and emissions from motor vehicles, municipal waste incinerators, wood fires, and trash burning. Exposure is linked to skin, reproductive, and liver problems in people.
PCBs are persistent man-made chemicals, banned in the mid-1970s, that continue to accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. PCB exposure is linked to low birth weight, learning disabilities, decreased memory, and reproductive problems.
Mercury is a bioaccumlative toxic heavy metal that poses particular problems for the developing nervous systems of children and unborn babies.
Cadmium is a bioaccumaltive toxic metal used in many industrial operations and in consumer products such as paints, plastics, and batteries. Long term cadmium exposure adversely impacts humans' kidneys, bones, and blood.
Source: NYSDOH:
Chemicals in Sportfish and Game
New York State’s remaining Great Lakes toxic hot spots:
- Niagara River AoC is located in Erie and Niagara counties. Pollution from inactive hazardous waste sites, sewer overflows, shoreline development, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals from industrial waste impair the river’s health.
- Buffalo River AoC in the City of Buffalo is impaired by poor water quality, sewer overflows, 45 inactive hazardous waste sites, deformed fish, and contaminated sediments laden with toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
- Eighteenmile Creek AoC is located in the Town of Newfane, Niagara County. Fish and wildlife deformities and reproductive problems are linked to sediments contaminated with heavy metals and toxic chemicals, as well as poor water quality and habitat degradation, which impair this Lake Ontario tributary.
- Rochester Embayment AoC of Lake Ontario in Monroe County is impaired by heavy metals, sewer overflows, and toxic organic substances, resulting in health advisories for fish consumption.
- St. Lawrence River at Massena AoC begins at the Massena Village drinking water intake and includes portions of the Grasse, Raquette, and St. Regis Rivers. PCBs, mercury, DDE, Mirex, nutrients, metals, physical disturbance, natural erosion, and invasive species impair the river.
Congress must reauthorize a strengthened Great Lakes Legacy Act!
The Great Lakes Legacy Act provides funding to clean up the AoCs, and is set to expire in 210. This program is essential to cleaning up toxic hotspots in the Great Lakes, and must be reauthorized. While the Legacy Act program is currently authorized at $54 million annually, reauthorization provides an opportunity to increase funding to $150 million annually. The increased authorization will strengthen the program and will help ensure that toxic hot spots are cleaned up once and for all!
How you can help:
Email your representative in the US House and your US Senators. Tell them that we must reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act at $150 million annually!
Not sure who your representative is?
NY Senators:
Hon. Charles E. Schumer
Hon. Kirsten Gillibrand
CT Senators:
Hon. Joseph Lieberman
Hon. Christopher Dodd
Updated by bsmith 3/30/10