Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017ME326B

Contamination of Messalonskee Lake by pharmaceuticals and chemical ingredients in personal care products: an emerging ecological and public health threat

Institute: Maine
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $2,500 Total Non-Federal Funds: $5,400

Principal Investigators: William McDowell, Denise Bruesewitz, Gail Carlson, Rachel Whitney

Project Summary: Contamination of freshwater lakes and streams by pharmaceuticals and chemical ingredients from personal care product chemicals (PPCPs) is an emerging and alarming threat to ecosystems and public health. A growing body of research has documented PPCPs contamination of lakes and streams all over the world and the effects of these chemicals on aquatic ecosystems. Little is known about Maine’s lakes, so we propose to survey numerous sites for PPCPs on Messalonskee Lake, located in the Belgrade Lakes watershed in central Maine. We will work closely with the local watershed association to conduct the research, disseminate our findings, and develop plausible interventions to help prevent the introduction of PPCPs to this watershed.