Chemir Helps to Solve Duck Mystery
ST. LOUIS , MO (August 2010) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a study regarding duck mortality at wastewater treatment plants in Colorado. Chemir provided analyses to detect specific chemicals that may have contributed to the deaths of more than 1000 ducks near these facilities. Large flocks of waterfowl typically enjoy treatment ponds in harsh winters, as the water remains above freezing point, providing both food and protection. However, a problem was noticed in 2007 and 2008. Hundreds of ducks, mostly northern shovelers, were discovered dead or near death at various wastewater treatment plants in central Colorado. After ruling out the possibilities of disease or toxins, the researchers concluded that the cause of these deaths was hypothermia. Somehow the waterfowl’s feathers had lost their repellency, causing the ducks to become waterlogged and to expire from hyperthermia. Chemir was contacted and asked to perform LC/MS testing on rinsate from the feather samples. LC/MS (Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) allows for detection and identification of chemicals in a mixture. Several different classes of surfactants were found to be present in the feathers, including polyethylene glycols (PEGs). More details of this study can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Region 6 website: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/10-48.htm The complete study, “Adverse Effects to Northern Shovelers from Exposure to Treated Wastewater from Central Front Range, Colorado, Wastewater Treatment Plants” may be found here: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/contaminants/documents/FINALIko_ADMIN_RPTWWTPStudy.pdf
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