Presenter: Christine Nakonechnyy
Authors: Christine Nakonechnyy, Sadie Thueson, Sara Rocks
Faculty Advisor: Sara Rocks
Institution: Utah Valley University
The wide distribution of pesticides and herbicides combined with their prolonged use have created devastating consequences for human health and the environment. Prolonged exposure to pesticides can be toxic and their chemical structures make them challenging to break down naturally, which results in the accumulation of pesticides in the environment. Studies have shown that the common pesticide atrazine is a carcinogen and an endocrine disruptor that severely affects amphibian populations, as well as human populations. Prolonged exposure to another pesticide, 1,3-Dichloropropene, can cause damage to bladder lining and anemia. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (weedone) exposure has been linked to low sperm counts, male reproductive damage and reduced litter sizes in some mammals. Studies done in Utah have been focused on the accumulation of pesticides within insects, birds and amphibians, but no studies have been done on the sediment of Utah lake. The purpose of this study is to examine core samples of sediment around Utah lake for the presence of atrazine, 1,3-dichloropropene and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (weedone). Utah lake is surrounded by 19 cities, which include Provo, Orem and Spanish Fork, some of the most populous cities in Utah. Utah lake is a shallow eutrophic lake that is constantly mixing the sediment from the lake floor into the water. The mixing within Utah lake means the pesticides found within the sediment are not considered to be trapped and are readily available to interact with the environment, which poses real danger to those who are in contact with the lake. The governing body over monitoring pesticide use, the department of agriculture, does not monitor where pesticides are being used, nor do they monitor the amounts used. This study aims to provide crucial information on the state of the lake and whether there is a concerning accumulation of pesticides in the sediment.