Fall 2010 Newsletter
Fowl Play: Chemir Helps to Solve Duck Mystery
An interesting project for Chemir was a collaborative investigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 1000 ducks were found dead near wastewater treatment facilities located in Colorado several years ago.
Large flocks of waterfowl typically enjoy wastewater 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. Many were found just north of Denver, near a pond that flows into the nearby South Platte River.
When several ducks still alive were brought to a rehabilitation center, it was discovered that they had lost their buoyancy and could no longer swim. Somehow the feathers’ natural waterproofing was compromised, causing hypothermia and death in the freezing winter weather. Investigators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the local wastewater district began to look at the carcasses of the dead birds for answers.
Tests ruled out any diseases that may have harmed the ducks, such as avian flu, West Nile, infections or cancer. Tests also ruled out poisoning from toxic substances. The focus remained on the bird’s feathers and the loss of their natural ability to repel water.
Bird feathers were analyzed at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the University of Wisconsin, Madison by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). Samples of feathers were also analyzed at the Mississippi State University Chemistry Laboratory. No specific culprit could be identified as the contaminant.
Chemir was contacted to solve the problem. Chemir’s objective was to examine the bird carcasses for clues as to what may have caused the loss of their ability to repel water. Chemir designed an experiment to analyze for specific chemicals present on affected and non-affected birds, including LC/MS (Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) analysis. The experiment was discussed with the wildlife team, and Chemir proceeded to perform testing on rinsate from the feather samples. LC/MS allows for detection and identification of chemicals in a mixture. Chemir’s analytical team identified several different classes of surfactants present in the feathers, including polyethylene glycols (PEGs).
The following year the investigators conducted a live-waterfowl study, exposing captive ducks to treated wastewater to determine any effects. A control group of ducks was exposed to a water source from outside of the wastewater facility. The treatment plant exposed ducks became waterlogged, lost their natural buoyancy and showed signs of hypothermia. However, PEGs were found to be present in both the control and experimental water. The study was not conclusive that PEGs could be responsible for the waterfowl’s loss of ability to repel water.
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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