Current Work on Toxic Waters

• Copper: Copper has a huge presence in our waters thanks to leaching boat hull paint, brake pad dust carried by stormwater and legacy contamination from industrial practices.

• Toxins in the San Diego Bay: Experiencing more than 20 different abuses, the bay needs special attention and restoration. Impacts from copper, PAHs, PCBs, arsenic, mercury and others have combined to leave deadly hot spots.

• Pesticides: Pesticides are lethal – that is why we use them to kill bugs in our lawns, gardens, parks and farms. Unfortunately, these pesticides wash into creeks and rivers where they kill or harm the wildlife.

• Pathogens: Pathogens – microbes like viruses, bacteria and protozoa that can make humans sick, are a major issue for California coastal and inland water bodies. Sewage spills or big rainstorms push these pathogens into the waters that we swim, surf and wade in. This puts us at risk of contracting a wide range of illnesses.

• Fireworks: Fireworks light up the night sky, but what goes up must come down. Unexploded fireworks, trash and propellant can wind up in our bays and coastal waters. The pollutants cause problems for aquatic wildlife and can lead to chronic toxicity in the water and sediment.